Dodgers’ 2024 World Series final pitch ball to be auctioned for fire relief
The baseball from the final pitch of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2024 World Series victory will be auctioned to support continued fire relief efforts in L.A. County.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith and his wife, Cara, are organizing the auction through their Catching Hope Foundation, with all proceeds benefiting those affected by recent wildfires.
The ball was thrown by starting pitcher Walker Buehler, making a rare and unexpected relief appearance to get the final strike in the Dodgers’ Game 5 win over the New York Yankees.
The final out propelled the Dodgers to the top of the sports landscape again for the second time in four years, and the team’s eighth overall championship.
“Los Angeles has not only become home to us, but it has welcomed and supported our family since 2019,” the Smiths said in a statement. “Our goal here is to give back and partner with the city that means so much to us in the years of rebuilding that are to come.”
The auction is hosted by the Memorabilia Network and will take place March 21 through April 5; registration is open now.
The ball will also be displayed at Dodger Stadium during the team’s home opening series against the Detroit Tigers later this month, and during the team’s homestand against the Atlanta Braves the following week.
“This prized baseball represents one of the most special moments in the long history of the Dodgers,” a team spokesperson said. “We applaud and support Will and Cara for taking the initiative to help so many others through this cherished piece of sports history.”
Catching Hope is a nonprofit dedicated to helping underprivileged children develop leadership and self-sufficiency skills. In addition to the Smith’s foundation, Buehler, who has since signed with the Boston Red Sox, is joining the effort alongside the Dodgers organization.
Bidders can find more information at online or by calling 747-256-4144.
The fires that raged across Los Angeles County earlier this year destroyed hundreds of homes, displaced hundreds of thousands of residents and were responsible for the deaths of at least 28 people.