Taipei 101 is to hold a special exhibition featuring "the most valuable baseball of all-time," hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Japanese slugger Shohei Ohtani in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the US, the landmark building's operator said yesterday.
The ball Ohtani hit to achieve his 50th home run this season in September is to be displayed at the Taipei 101 Observatory when a special exhibition to promote baseball culture in Taiwan opens tomorrow, Taipei 101 Ltd said.
Photo from the Goldin Auctions Facebook page
The special exhibition is also being held to support development of the sport in rural areas of Taiwan, with related events planned including dialogue with Taiwanese baseball players, the company said.
The Japanese baseball player made history with his 50th home run during a 20-4 Dodgers victory over the Miami Marlins at Miami's LoanDepot Park on Sept. 19, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season.
Taiwanese private investment firm UC Capital announced late last month that it won the auction for the Ohtani 50/50 ball held by Goldin Auctions by paying US$4.392 million, which the auction firm said is "the highest sale price for any ball of any sport."
The special exhibition opens on the day Taiwan and Japan join Mexico to host the Premier12 2024 baseball tournament of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) from Nov. 9 to 24.
Mexico is hosting the opening round games in Group A until Thursday, while Taiwan hosts the opening round in Group B until Monday next week, other than the game between Japan and Australia tomorrow, which takes place in Nagoya.
The top two teams in both groups is to play in the super round at the Tokyo Dome from Thursday next week to 24, according to the WBSC Web site.
The exhibition is open to anyone who buys a ticket to the Taipei 101 Observatory on the 89th floor of the skyscraper, although the company did not say when it would conclude.
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