Shohei Ohtani, the standout player who recently clinched a World Series victory and a National League MVP title with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now embroiled in a legal battle to retrieve baseball cards valued at $325,000 that were unlawfully obtained by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who had already pleaded guilty to duping Ohtani out of nearly $17 million, is at the center of this ongoing saga that has captured the attention of fans and legal enthusiasts alike.
In a bid to reclaim what rightfully belongs to him, Ohtani took the matter to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Tuesday, where he lodged a formal request to regain possession of the sports cards taken from Mizuhara by law enforcement. A hearing has been scheduled for December 20 to address this high-stakes dispute.
The backdrop to this legal tussle involves Mizuhara’s admission in June of engaging in bank and tax fraud, where he openly confessed to siphoning off millions from Ohtani. Between January and March of 2024, Mizuhara exploited his access to Ohtani’s accounts to make purchases of baseball cards through platforms like eBay and Whatnot, with the intention of flipping them for a profit. Ohtani firmly maintains that these cards were procured using his funds and thus rightfully belong to him.
Adding an intriguing twist to the case, Ohtani revealed to the court that a collection of personally signed baseball cards featuring his likeness was discovered in Mizuhara’s possession and incorrectly seized. As part of his petition, Ohtani is now seeking the return of these collectibles.
Court records specify that the confiscated items comprise a variety of sports cards housed in silver and black Panopply cases, gray Panopply cases, an additional box filled with collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders. This detailed inventory highlights the scale and significance of the seized possessions that Ohtani is eager to retrieve.
Mizuhara’s downfall stemmed from his unauthorized entry into Ohtani’s bank account, a breach of trust that led to his dismissal from the Dodgers once his deceit came to light in March. While Mizuhara was initially slated for sentencing on October 25, a series of postponements have pushed the date to January 24, underscoring the complexity and gravity of the legal proceedings surrounding his misdeeds.
Looking ahead, the December 20 court hearing will serve as a pivotal moment in determining whether Ohtani can reclaim ownership of the confiscated sports cards. This legal chapter marks a significant turning point in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s betrayal of the trust Ohtani had placed in him, highlighting the challenges faced by sports icons beyond the playing field in navigating complex legal battles.