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1996: A fan paid $2.3 million for a baseball that cost $0 to produce

In 1996, Todd McFarlane paid $2.3 million for the ball Mark McGwire hit for his 70th home run. The ball was retrieved by a fan who did not pay for it, highlighting the speculative market for sports memorabilia.

Published Oct 9, 2026FactNest · Community discoveries

In 1998, the race between Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs to break Roger Maris's single-season home run record captivated the sports world. When McGwire hit his 70th home run on September 27, 1998, the ball landed in the hands of a fan who had paid only the price of admission. That fan, Philip Ozersky, later sold the ball at auction for $3 million to Todd McFarlane, a comic book artist and entrepreneur. ^[1][2]

The sale highlighted the booming market for sports memorabilia, where ordinary objects can become immensely valuable due to their historical significance. McFarlane, known for creating Spawn and owning Todd McFarlane Productions, is also a passionate collector of sports artifacts. He outbid other collectors to secure the historic ball. ^[2][3]

$3 million

Price Todd McFarlane paid for McGwire's 70th home run ball at auction in 1999. ^[2]

The Fan Who Caught History

Philip Ozersky, a research scientist from St. Louis, caught the ball in the left-field stands at Busch Stadium. He initially considered keeping it but decided to sell it, saying he could not afford to turn down such a windfall. The ball was sold through Guernsey's auction house in January 1999. ^[1][3]

McGwire's Record-Breaking Season

McGwire's 70 home runs broke the previous record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961. The achievement was later overshadowed by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, but at the time it was celebrated as one of the greatest feats in baseball history. The ball remains a symbol of that memorable season. ^[4]

Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998, setting a new single-season record. ^[4]
The ball was caught by Philip Ozersky, a fan attending the game. ^[1]
Todd McFarlane purchased the ball for $3 million in 1999. ^[2]

The sale demonstrated the speculative nature of sports memorabilia, where items with no intrinsic value can command astronomical prices based on cultural significance and scarcity. It also raised questions about who should profit from historic moments—the player, the team, or the fan who happens to catch the ball. ^[3]