Yu Darvish has had an illustrious professional baseball career that has spanned over a decade across Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league and Major League Baseball in the United States. As one of the top pitchers of his generation, Darvish’s talents and accomplishments have been commemorated through numerous baseball cards since making his pro debut in 2005. Let’s take an in-depth look at Yu Darvish’s baseball card history and some of the top cards collectors seek.
Yu Darvish made his pro debut as an 18-year old pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2005. That season he appeared in 5 games and compiled an 0-1 record with a 5.00 ERA. His rookie card came in 2006 Upper Deck Japanese baseball card set. The serial number rookie card shows Darvish at age 19 in his Fighters uniform. While not one of his flashier cards due to being from his early career, it remains the first card documenting Darvish’s path to stardom and holds significance as any player’s rookie card does. PSA 10 graded versions of this card regularly sell in the $150-200 range showing it has found its place as a key piece in Yu Darvish card collections.
In 2007 at age 20, Darvish began to break out and put the baseball world on notice that a star was emerging. He led the Pacific League that season with 18 wins against only 6 losses and a 1.82 ERA over 232 innings pitched in 29 starts. He struck out 254 batters setting a then-Nippon Professional Baseball single season record. His dominance was reflected on his 2007 Calbee baseball cards. The gold parallel version of this card showing his intimidating wind-up is one of Darvish’s most iconic early Japanese issue cards. PSA 10 graded versions have sold for over $800 demonstrating its strong collector demand.
Yu Darvish had a phenomenal 2008 season that further cemented his status as an elite pitcher. He went 16-5 with a 1.88 ERA and set a new NPB single season record with 276 strikeouts. His accomplishments were highlighted on his 2008 BBM 1st Version card where he is pictured mid-delivery. High graded versions of this definitive card for Darvish collectors consistently sell for $300-400 range prices. Also that year, the 2008 BBM Draft Edition Rookies & Prospects set included Darvish’s card at position #1 as he was seen as the consensus top prospect. Numbered to only 121 copies, PSA 10 versions have sold for over $1500 showing its extreme rarity and key status in any Darvish collection.
In 2009 at age 22, Yu Darvish achieved international stardom by winning the Sawamura Award as the top pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He went 18-4 with a 1.88 ERA and 242 strikeouts that season. His accomplishments were spotlighted on multiple cards including in the popular 2009 BBM 1st Version set as well as in Calbee card inserts. One of his most epic cards came in the 2009 BBM Draft Edition set where Darvish is pictured in mid-windup in golden photo variation parallel. Numbered to a very low 101 copies, high graded examples have sold for upwards of $5000 in recent years due to its iconic imagery and ultra-limited printing. This is truly a prize card among avid Darvish collectors.
In 2010, Yu Darvish continued to dominate NPB. He finished the season with a 13-5 record, 1.44 ERA and 276 strikeouts in only 165.1 innings for the Fighters. His success and 5th season in NPB led to new card releases from Calbee as well as in the 2010 BBM 1st Version set which includes a sharp photo of his windup. Graded versions in the $100-150 range are common for these notable cards from his 2010 campaign. That offseason, Darvish created massive buzz by announcing he would explore signing with an MLB team through the newly instituted posting system.
True to speculation, Yu Darvish was posted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters after the 2011 season. In a bidding war, the Texas Rangers won the rights to negotiate a contract with Darvish by posting a then-record $51.7 million bid. On January 20, 2012, Darvish officially signed a 6-year, $56 million contract with the Rangers. His jump to MLB was commemorated in card form in the 2012 Topps Series 1 baseball card set with his Rangers debut card numbered 91. High graded versions remain reasonably priced around the $30-50 range reflecting both the large printing and the excitement surrounding Darvish’s transition stateside.
Yu Darvish made his MLB debut on April 9, 2012 against the Seattle Mariners. He went 5 innings allowing 1 run while striking out 8 in a no-decision. His promising initial showing with the Rangers was captured on various commemorative MLB debut cards inserted in 2012 Topps products including Topps Opening Day. These early Darvish Rangers cards can be obtained graded for under $20 showing collectors enthusiasm but also the large print runs of modern baseball cards. Darvish would go on to finish 4th in AL Rookie of the Year voting after a solid 16-9 record and a 3.90 ERA in his first MLB season.
In 2013, Yu Darvish took his game to another level. He posted a franchise record 277 strikeouts on the season with a 2.83 ERA over 209 innings in 32 starts. He finished 5th in AL Cy Young voting and displayed why many saw him as the most electric pitcher outside the USA. Topps captured Darvish’s brilliance through various base cards and parallels in their 2013 product lines. One of the highlights was Darvish’s Topps Finest Refractor parallel card numbered to /299 copies. Even in a fairly common format like Finest, high graded versions remain very popular, trading hands for $75-100 prices still today.
Yu Darvish kept performing at an elite level for the Rangers in 2014. He won a career high 14 games to go along with a 2.83 ERA and a league leading 277 strikeouts yet again. Topps honored his consistency with prominent base cards in their 2014 offerings as well as various parallels such as in Allen & Ginter. One of the real iconic Darvish cards from the year came courtesy of Topps Chrome. The highly coveted Refractor parallel version of Darvish’s card numbered to only /99 copies commands big prices to this day. PSA 10 gold labels have sold for over $300 showing its popularity amongst collectors.
Injuries limited Yu Darvish to only 8 games in 2015 with the Rangers. As such, he had few premium new cards produced that season from the likes of Topps, Panini, etc outside of basic base cards. He did receive retrospective treatment fromcompanies like TriStar Produtions in their Pristine set with Darvish featured in pristine clear parallels. Even in a down injury season, his talent was recognized. Darvish returned to full health in 2016 and rediscovered his ace form with a One-Hit Shutout and an overall 20-7 record and 3.41 ERA before being traded to the Dodgers that summer.
The highlight of Yu Darvish’s tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers came during the 2017 season. He helped the Dodgers win the National League West title and made two outstanding postseason starts. This led Topps to feature Darvish prominently across their 2017 offerings, especially in desirable parallels like Gold Framed Signature Series and Chrome. One truly epic pull was his /5 Topps National Treasures Autograph patch card which recently sold at auction for over $2000 showing the high demand for one of the rarest Darvish cards ever produced while with Los Angeles.
In 2018, Yu Darvish signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs on a 6-year, $126 million contract. His first season in a Cubs uniform led to many base and Parallel cards across companies like Topps, Bowman, Topps Chrome, etc. One card quickly emerged as the premier Darvish Cubs rookie. His 2018 Topps Heritage High Number Mini short print card has proven enormously popular amongst collectors. Even in a relatively low numbered parallel of /499 copies, PSA 10 gold labels have sold in the $150-200 range showing how beloved Darvish’s Cubs tenure has become already.
Since joining the Chicago Cubs, Yu Darvish has continued to give collectors exciting new cardboard. In 2019, he put together his best MLB season to date with a personal record 8-8 record and a 2.76 ERA over 31 starts and an MLB best 20.1 K/9 ratio over 179 innings. This led to further prominent cards across company base sets and parallels. One truly elite card came from Panini’s Encased product which featured a dual Darvish/Anthony Rizzo patch card numbered to an ultra-low 1/1 copy. Needless to say, this one-of-a-kind Darvish card holds a high place of esteem in any collection.
Yu Darvish remains one of the premier starting pitchers not just on the Chicago Cubs but in all of Major League Baseball as he has proven year after year. Through 2021 and with continued success, expect to see many more treasured Darvish cards issued across the hobby landscape. From his early Japanese rookie and record breaking NPB cards to his transition stateside with Texas and Los Angeles to now with the Cubs, Darvish’s trailblazing career has been well documented in the cardboard collecting world and his collection of cards will surely continue to grow and excite fans and collectors alike. A dedicated assemblage of Darvish’s cards stands as a terrific retrospective of one of this generation’s top arms.
