Custom spikes word by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani during an historic game can be yours.
The New Balance Ohtani 1 shoes were worn last year during the Tokyo Series, the first ever MLB game played in Ohtani’s native Japan.
Ohtani’s cleats are up for auction now
The auction began on Monday and runs through Aug. 16, according to auction host The Realest, which added that the cleats are “a modern-era, museum-level baseball artifact, and the most culturally significant footwear ever worn on Japanese soil.”
“This is one of the most important pieces of modern baseball footwear ever publicly offered,” said Scott Keeney, the founder and CEO of The Realest who also goes by DJ Skee. “This is more than just a piece of game-used memorabilia from a star player – these shoes represent a rare crossover of baseball legacy, Japanese sports history, and sneaker culture. The rarest artifacts are defined by the icon, the moment, and the provenance, with elite examples reaching million-dollar and multi-million-dollar prices. This pair of shoes has all three, placing it in the conversation with the most significant sports and cultural footwear of all-time.”
Shohei Ohtani’s cleats feature custom touches
In addition to the shoes’ historical value, this pair features a few special touches, adding to the unique quality of the memorabilia.
For starters, these game-worn spikes still show dirt from the Tokyo Dome picked up during the most-watched baseball game in Japanese history.
In addition, Ohtani signed these cleats in Japanese Kanji, a rarity for the global superstar, and his handwritten inscription of “GU Opening Day Tokyo Series,” which indicates game-used gear.
The shoes are also what’s known as “Player Exclusive,” meaning they’re a one-of-one creation specifically for Ohtani. As such, you won’t be surprised to find out how tailored to Ohtani they are.
For instance, the shoes feature accents in Dodger Blue and a red to match the team’s jersey numbers.
Plus, Ohtani’s beloved dog, Decoy, is pictured both on the heels and the soles of the shoes.
The soles actually picture Decoy in two different poses, the first while sitting and looking directly at the viewer, and the other an action shot of the canine companion mid run.
You can win without placing a bid
In a fun twist, the highest bidder won’t be the only winner.
The person who guesses closes to the final price will receive 1% of it.
Visit ohtani.therealest.com to participate.
