Shohei Ohtani is one of the most unique and exciting players in Major League Baseball today. As both a talented pitcher and fearsome slugger, Ohtani has captured the attention and admiration of fans everywhere with his rare two-way playing ability. Not surprisingly, Ohtani’s impressive accomplishments and widespread popularity have translated to huge demand for his baseball cards. Whether you’re a casual collector, die-hard Angels fan, or looking to invest in a rising star, Ohtani cards present a compelling option and their values are likely to appreciate over time. Here is an in-depth overview of some of the top Shohei Ohtani baseball cards currently available for collectors and investors.
One of the most coveted early Ohtani cards available is his 2017 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Autograph Violet Refractor card. As Ohtani’s first autographed card issued in the United States, just 10 of these spectacular refractive parallels were produced. Needless to say,Finding an intact copy today would command an astronomical price in the five or even six figure range. While beyond the reach of most collectors budgets, the card serves as a testament to how rapidly Ohtani became a star and how much interest there was in his cards from the very beginning of his pro career.
For a more affordable Ohtani rookie card, you can’t go wrong with his 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 base card. As his first mainstream US issue, it established Ohtani on the collector scene and remains one of his most iconic early looks. Graded mint condition PSA/BGS 10 copies in the $150-250 range are attainable for avid collectors. Slightly played raw copies can often be found for under $50. The 2017 Topps Update card, which features him with an Angels uniform on the front for the first time, is also a notable cheap alternative at under $20 typically.
For Angels collectors, Ohtani’s 2018 Topps Heritage Minor League card really stands out. Limited to just his time in the minors before joining the Halos, it serves as an important bridge connecting Ohtani to his current MLB team. Raw copies are only $5-10 but graded gems above a PSA 9 could run $50-75 due to the nostalgia and significance to Angels collectors. Another affordable Angels Ohtani option is his 2018 Stadium Club Chrome Blue Refractor parallel, which can be found graded or raw for $30-50 depending on condition.
In terms of flagship rookies, Ohtani’s 2018 Topps Series 1 and 2018 Topps Chrome are always going to be solid long term investments given their wide distribution and iconic design. PSA 10 examples of the basic paper version trade between $150-200, while the Chrome refractors command a slight premium above that range. The Update and Heritage variants from that year carry similar values too. For a true holy grail, find his ultra-rare 2018 Topps Update Turquoise Parallel auto graded a PSA 10 – last auction prices hovered around the $4,000 mark.
Jumping to present day, some of Ohtani’s finest recent issues carry correspondingly lofty values. His 2019 Topps Update Silver Pack RC Auto Parallel /50 for example usually fetches $300-400 in PSA 10 condition. Autographed parallels from 2019 Topps Transcendent like the Purple /10 or Gold /5 reach up into four figure territory as well. For a spectacular modern refractor, hunt down a BGS 9.5 or PSA 10 copy of his 2021 Topps Chrome Black Border Refractor, valued near $250 given the 99 printing limit.
As Ohtani’s two-way success grows, so too does collector appetite for commemorating his accomplishments through special issued cards. His 2021 Topps Finest Negative Auto Parallel /15 captured his AL MVP and Silver Slugger awards, propelling PSA 10s over $500. Topps also released exquisite on-card autograph patches from that season patch that command well over $1,000 in top grades. Summer 2022 saw Topps honor Ohtani’s single season home run record with a stunning Negative Auto Parallel /25 which now trade for north of $800 PSA 10.
Looking ahead, as Ohtani continues shattering expectations and breaking new ground, interest in his rookie cards and top modern issues will only increase exponentially with time. Even affordable raw copies from his early Topps flagship Series 1 and Update issues seem quite the bargain all these years later. For serious long term investments, target obtaining pristine quality gems of his rarest autograph, patch or parallel cards – especially those recognizing special career milestones. With any luck, Ohtani has many more ahead to further drive collector enthusiasm and card values to greater heights than we can currently fathom. His prolific two-way talents make Shohei Ohtani one of the most fascinating players to collect in the modern baseball card era.
