Bautista bat-flip ball auction closes

The clock has run out on the month-long auction of Jose Bautista’s bat-flip ball.

Bidding on the ball from Bautista’s three-run homer in Toronto’s wild 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series closed late on Friday. The price had risen from the reserve bid of US$3,500 on Jan. 4 to more than $14,000 four weeks later.

The bidding closed at 10 p.m. EST Friday.

Meanwhile, the anonymous Canadian consignor is hoping the ball remains north of the border, but he has a plan to ensure it helps baseball fans in this country if that doesn’t happen.

“When it gets to that high-dollar amount, I hope there’s somebody in Canada who sees the importance of it being here,” said the spokesperson for the small group that owns the ball.

“We made the decision to take some of the money and make a donation to Robbie Alomar’s foundation. We want to keep the ball safe here, but if not, we’re going to give some money to them and let them do what they do.

“But I hope a big business or a big CEO steps up and buys it and puts it on display for the fans. That’s what we really want. We want it to come back here and let the fans see it.”

Bautista hit the ball out of the park for a seventh-inning home run that won the ALDS for Toronto. The moment became entrenched in Blue Jays lore when it was punctuated by his notorious bat flip.

The now-famous bat is kept in a glass case in Toronto’s clubhouse in a foyer between the manager’s office and the players’ locker-room. It was on display for fans to see at the Blue Jays Winter Fest at Rogers Centre.

Alomar’s Foundation 12 helps youth baseball players in Canada by providing financial assistance, program support and educational opportunities.