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Game-used ball from historic Freddie Freeman home run sells for $1.56 million at SCP Auctions
The baseball that Freddie Freeman hit for a dramatic walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series sold for $1.56 million at SCP Auctions, making it the third most valuable game-used ball ever.
Freeman’s blast in the 10th inning of Game 1 lifted the Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the Yankees to jumpstart its second World Series championship in four years. Freeman hit four homes runs in the series, including in a record six games in a row dating back to the 2021 World Series, to earn World Series MVP as the Dodgers beat the Yankees four games to one.
“That's as good as it gets right there,” Freeman said after the game.
The sales price surpassed Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball. The baseball that Shohei Ohtani hit for his 50th home run last season set the all-time record in October, selling for $4.3 million.
“We are so honored to have handled one of the most important artifacts in World Series history, dating back to 1903,” SCP Auctions President David Kohler said.
The ball Freeman hit in Game 1 was corralled by 10-year-old Dodgers fan Zachary Ruderman, whose parents had told him he was leaving school early on the day of game to get his braces removed. Instead, they took him to Dodger Stadium for Game 1. When the ball rolled from the seat in front of Zachary to his feet, he batted it to his dad, Nico, who jumped on it ahead of several other fans scrambling after it.
“Our family hopes the baseball will be displayed in Dodger Stadium so all Dodgers and baseball fans can view a very special piece of history for the city of Los Angeles,” the Ruderman family said.
