Aaron Judge’s World Series Mishap: Dropped Fly Ball Sells for $43,510

The 2024 World Series delivered unforgettable moments, and not all of them were triumphant. For Yankees fans, Aaron Judge’s dropped fly ball in Game 5 was a devastating low point. But for one collector, the mishap became a piece of history worth owning, fetching $43,510 at auction.

The infamous ball, dropped by Judge during the critical game, was sold on Thursday through an auction hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. While Yankees fans would rather forget the moment, this collector saw it as an opportunity to preserve a slice of baseball lore.

The error occurred as the Yankees clung to hopes of making their first World Series appearance in 15 years. Judge misjudged a fly ball hit by Tommy Edman, setting off a chain reaction of defensive missteps. The Dodgers capitalized, scoring three runs and erasing a five-run deficit. The momentum from that inning propelled Los Angeles to victory in both the game and the series.

For Yankees supporters, the game was a painful reminder of how quickly fortunes can change. But for collectors, moments like these—however bittersweet—hold immense value.

The bidding for the ball was competitive, starting at $17,000 before soaring in the final hours of the auction. By the time the hammer fell, the price had reached $43,510, cementing the ball’s place in the annals of baseball collectibles.

For the buyer, it’s a tangible reminder of the dramatic twists of the 2024 World Series. For Yankees fans, it’s a moment they’d rather leave behind—except for one, who now owns a piece of that history forever.