UPDATE: In a thrilling turn of events, SCP Auctions has secured two historic World Series home run baseballs caught by a father-son duo during Game 7 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays on October 15, 2025. This just-in news comes straight from the auction house’s chief operations officer, Mike Keys, who confirmed the exciting acquisition to ESPN.
The baseballs were collected from John Bains and his son, Matthew Bains, who were seated in the first row of Rogers Centre’s Section 143. Keys revealed that the company’s inventory manager made a special trip to Ontario this week to retrieve the prized possessions, a move that underscores the significance of these artifacts in baseball history.
The adrenaline-fueled game witnessed dramatic moments as John Bains caught the game-tying home run hit by Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas in the top of the ninth inning. Later, in the 11th inning, Matthew caught the series-winning home run ball hit by Dodgers catcher Will Smith, both balls landing in the same section of left field. “I’ve had seats for the last 10 years, and the main reason I picked these, after the Rogers Centre renovation, were for playoffs,” John Bains shared.
The father-son duo, hailing from Brampton, Ontario, attended the game with John’s other son, Daniel, as they cheered for their home team. Bains, a season ticket holder, was prepared with additional baseballs from previous games, anticipating the chance to catch a Dodgers home run. After securing the Rojas ball, he threw one of his extra baseballs back onto the field, making the moment even more special.
While the excitement swells around these collectibles, it’s important to note that a source within Major League Baseball confirmed that the Rojas and Smith balls were not covertly marked and will not receive MLB authentication due to league policy. SCP Auctions is now tasked with collecting sworn affidavits and conducting polygraph tests with John and Matthew before the balls can be auctioned.
Keys emphasized, “With these balls that don’t get MLB stickered, that’s how we have to go about things.” The auction house aims to maintain integrity and trust in the selling process.
The market for such memorabilia is booming. The final-pitch ball from the 2024 World Series, authenticated by MLB, sold for an astounding $414,000 earlier this year. Moreover, SCP Auctions brokered the sale of Freddie Freeman‘s 2024 World Series Game 1 walk-off home run ball for an impressive $1.56 million, making it the third-most expensive baseball ever sold.
Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage Auctions, speculated that the value of the Bains’ baseballs could soar into six figures. “Smith’s home run is going to top the Rojas ball — I wouldn’t be surprised to see that approach seven figures,” he stated, highlighting the potential market frenzy surrounding these items.
As the auction process unfolds, baseball fans and collectors alike are eagerly awaiting further developments. The authentication process could take several days, but the anticipation is already palpable.
Stay tuned for updates on this captivating story as it develops, and be ready for potential bidding wars that could reshape the landscape of sports memorabilia.