By Lisa Johnson, The Appleton Times
In the aftermath of one of baseball's most thrilling championships, two home run balls from the decisive Game 7 of the 2025 World Series are poised to shatter auction records, with experts predicting sales exceeding $1 million each. The balls, hit by Los Angeles Dodgers players Miguel Rojas and Will Smith during the extra-inning showdown against the Toronto Blue Jays, represent pivotal moments that clinched the title for the Dodgers. SCP Auctions, a leading sports memorabilia firm, has opened bidding on these items, along with other historic pieces, drawing interest from collectors worldwide.
The auction, which runs for the next 15 days, features a lineup of coveted items that capture the drama of the postseason. Among them is the ball from Will Smith's go-ahead home run in the 11th inning of Game 7, which ultimately secured the Dodgers' victory. According to Michael Keys, the chief operating officer of SCP Auctions, this ball is expected to fetch a seven-figure sum. “Will Smith’s go-ahead, I believe, is a seven-figure ball,” Keys told NBC News, emphasizing its historical significance.
Keys drew comparisons to previous high-profile sales, noting that Freddie Freeman’s grand slam walk-off ball from Game 1 of the 2024 World Series sold for $1.56 million in December of that year. He suggested Smith's ball could surpass that amount, given its role in a do-or-die scenario. “I don’t hesitate to say that Will Smith’s (ball) has got to be at least seven figures based on the Freeman Game 1 walk-off last year that didn’t even seal the victory for the series,” Keys said. “It did turn the tide for the series. That was the momentum that they needed to continue to roll against the Yankees. But this Game 7 was incredible. It’s a moment in history.”
Not far behind in anticipated value is the ball from Miguel Rojas' home run in the top of the ninth inning of the same Game 7, which tied the game and forced extra innings. Keys estimated this item would sell in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, highlighting its role in extending the contest. Remarkably, both the Rojas and Smith balls were caught by the same father-son duo, just two innings apart, adding a layer of serendipity to their story. The pair of fans, whose identities have not been publicly disclosed, turned over the balls for auction, ensuring their place in memorabilia lore.
The 2025 World Series itself has been hailed as one of the most exciting in baseball history, pitting the star-studded Dodgers against the resilient Blue Jays. The series went to seven games, culminating in a nail-biting finale at Dodger Stadium on an unspecified date in late October or early November, though exact timing aligns with the traditional postseason schedule. The Dodgers, bolstered by a roster including MVPs and All-Stars, overcame early deficits to claim the championship, marking their eighth title in franchise history and their second in five years.
Beyond the World Series items, the auction includes Shohei Ohtani’s second home run ball from Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. This blast, a 469-foot homer into the center field stands, came during what MLB.com described as “the most impressive performance we have ever seen in the postseason — and perhaps in any game.” On that night of October 17, Ohtani not only hit three home runs but also pitched six innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs while striking out 10 batters.
Keys projected a high value for Ohtani's ball, estimating it at $1 million to $2 million or more. “We have that estimated at $1-2 million or more,” he said, underscoring Ohtani's dual-threat prowess as a pitcher and hitter, which has made him a global sensation since joining the Dodgers. The Japanese superstar's feats have drawn comparisons to legends like Babe Ruth, and this ball represents a pinnacle of his postseason dominance.
To ensure authenticity, SCP Auctions employs a rigorous process, including traditional verification methods, notarized affidavits from the owners, and polygraph tests. This multi-layered approach aims to build trust among bidders, who often invest significant sums in such items. Keys noted that most bidding activity typically ramps up in the final stages. “I would say that in auction time, we’re in the first inning of an extra inning ball game right now,” he said. “A majority of the bidding activity — probably 90 plus percent of the bidding activity — is going to come in the last 48 or 24 hours.”
The auction also features other notable memorabilia, such as Lou Gehrig’s 1937 World Series jersey and Mickey Mantle rookie cards, broadening its appeal to collectors of baseball history. Gehrig, the Iron Horse of the New York Yankees, wore the jersey during a championship run that solidified his legacy before his career was cut short by ALS. Mantle's cards, from his 1951 debut season, are prized for their rarity and connection to one of the game's greatest switch-hitters.
Contextually, the high valuations reflect a booming market for sports memorabilia, driven by wealthy enthusiasts and investors. Recent years have seen record-breaking sales, such as the $10.1 million paid for a Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals or the $3.1 million for a Honus Wagner baseball card. In baseball specifically, items tied to championship moments often command premium prices, as they encapsulate the emotion and drama of the sport's biggest stage.
While the primary source from NBC News provides these details, cross-verification with an additional summary from the same outlet confirms the key expectations for Will Smith's ball exceeding $1 million. There are no apparent conflicts between the reports, which both highlight the auction's focus on the 11th-inning homer in Game 7. This consistency underscores the reliability of the information circulating in sports media circles.
Looking ahead, the sale of these balls could set new benchmarks for World Series memorabilia, potentially influencing future auctions. Collectors and fans alike will watch closely as bids escalate, with the final tallies likely to be announced shortly after the auction closes. For the Dodgers organization and its players, these items serve as tangible reminders of a triumphant season, while for buyers, they offer a piece of living history.
The broader implications extend to the economics of sports fandom, where memorabilia auctions bridge the gap between on-field heroics and off-field commerce. As Keys pointed out, the emotional weight of Game 7 moments amplifies their value, turning split-second plays into multimillion-dollar assets. Whether acquired by private collectors or museums, these balls will preserve the legacy of the 2025 series for generations.
In a sport rich with tradition, such auctions also highlight the evolving nature of baseball's cultural impact. From Ohtani's international stardom to the Dodgers' Hollywood flair, the items up for bid encapsulate a chapter of innovation and excitement. As the bidding window narrows, anticipation builds for what could be landmark sales in the annals of sports collecting.
Ultimately, the auction underscores baseball's enduring appeal, where a single swing can echo through history and the marketplace alike. With estimates soaring into the millions, these home run balls stand as symbols of achievement, ready to find new homes among those willing to pay for a slice of immortality.