The Ultimate Guide to Shohei Ohtani Baseball Cards
Summary & Career Highlights
Rookie Year: 2018
Iconic Rookie Card:
Highest Public Sale: 2024 Topps 50/50 Dynasty Black Autographed Relic 1/1 for $1,067,500 with Heritage Auctions in March 2025
Similar Career Players: Babe Ruth
Players with Similar Cards to Check Out: Ronald Acuna Jr., Juan Soto, Rafael Devers, Mike Trout
Career Highlights
2x World Series Champion (2024, 2025)
3x MVP (2021, 2023, 2024)
5x All Star (2021-2025)
2018 AL Rookie of the Year
1st and only player in the 50-50 club (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases)
Dodgers single season HR record Holder (55 in 2025)
Iconic Cards
Collecting Shohei Ohtani means navigating the most complex card landscape in modern baseball, and that's exactly what makes it fascinating. This two-way phenom didn't just break the rules on the field; his card offerings shattered every convention we had about rookie releases. From his 2013 Japanese rookies, to his head-spinning 2018 MLB debut that spawned multiple base cards and inserts across seemingly every Topps product, Ohtani's catalog is a masterclass in both opportunity and confusion.
The sheer volume of options can overwhelm (multiple images, hitting versus pitching poses, flagship confusion between Series 2 and Update), but here's what matters: Ohtani's most iconic cards combine true scarcity and iconic imagery that captures a once-in-a-century talent. Whether you're chasing his Japanese "Redwing" that tells his origin story or his stateside rookies that document his MLB dominance, remember - you're not just collecting cards, you're taking part in appreciating the player who redefined what's possible in baseball.
Icon Key
Prospective Card Cost:
💰 - Under $250
💰💰- Under $1,000
💰💰💰- Under $5,000
💰💰💰💰- Under $15,000
💰💰💰💰💰- Over $15,000
Rarity:
💎 - Common & High Serial Number
💎💎- Serial Numbered or Pop Under 200
💎💎💎 - Serial Numbered or Pop Under 100
💎💎💎💎 - Serial Number or Pop Under 50
💎💎💎💎💎 - Does this card even exist? Serial Number or Pop under 10
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2013 BBM
#183 1st Version
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2013 BBM 1st Version #183 is Ohtani's first true rookie card, capturing him as a member of the Nippon Ham Fighters before his MLB debut turned him into a global icon. Collectors often refer to this as the "Red Wing" rookie, a nod to the distinctive crest positioned at the bottom center of the card. As BBM's flagship release, 1st Version carries the same weight in Japanese card culture that Topps flagship does stateside. Gold and silver facsimile signature parallels exist for collectors chasing rarity.
2018 Bowman Chrome
#1 Batting
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2018 Bowman Chrome #1 has become the definitive base rookie for Ohtani collectors, outpacing every other non-autographed option in both demand and secondary market performance. For those priced out of high-end RPAs, this serves as an appealing entry point, offering iconic Bowman Chrome aesthetics without the five-figure commitment. In an era where Bowman base cards are often dismissed as filler, the #1 Bowman Chrome proves that when design, player, and timing align, even unlimited print runs can't diminish collector appetite.
2018 Bowman Chrome
#1 SP Variation (Carrying Bag)
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2018 Bowman Chrome #1 Carrying Bag variation offers a short-printed alternative to the standard batting pose, making it a natural target for collectors who want rarity but don't want (or can't afford) Ohtani autographs. Unlike the base version, this short-printed image variation isn't available across the full spectrum of Bowman parallels. Your options are the unsigned variation shown here or the exceptionally rare autographed version numbered to 25.
2018 Bowman Chrome
#BCRA-SO (Hitting) Blue Refractor Auto /150
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎
About the Card: Ohtani breaks the Bowman Chrome mold by having two rookie autographs—Hitting and Pitching variations—instead of the traditional "1st Bowman" designation. Collectors debated which version would claim "Best Ohtani Auto" status, but recent sales have settled the question decisively in favor of the Hitting card, which now commands a significant premium. What makes this version particularly compelling is the matching base card, something his pitching auto does not have, which gives collectors a chance to collect the auto and non-auto versions. The blue refractor auto is pictured here, but the card is also available in a base, refractor /499, purple /250, green /99, gold /50, orange /25, red /5, and a 1-of-1 superfractor.
2018 Bowman Chrome
#SO (Pitching) Rookie Autograph Atomic Refractor /100
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎
About the Card: The Pitching variation holds the distinction of being Ohtani's first Bowman autograph released, debuting as part of the Chrome Rookie Autograph insert within flagship Bowman and arriving live in packs with his full signature. While it shares most of the same parallel structure as the Hitting auto, the Pitching version gets one exclusive offering: the Atomic Refractor /100, which replaced the purple refractor /250. The tradeoff for being first to market is a photoshopped image placing Ohtani in an Angels uniform, lacking the authenticity of the Hitting card's live-action shot—a distinction that matters to some collectors who prioritize on-field imagery.
2018 Exquisite Collection
#09T-SO '09-10 Rookie Tribute Autograph /99
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎
About the Card: The 2018 Exquisite Collection #09TSO '09-'10 Rookie Tribute Auto /99 pays homage to one of the hobby's most iconic modern cards: the 2009-10 Exquisite Collection autograph Steph Curry's rookie popularized. Released as an "Update" card in 2019 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions, the first 10 cards in the print run signed in Kanji with the remaining signed in latin. The challenge for this card in becoming Ohtani's "Best card" is twofold: it's unlicensed, which limits its appeal to purists, and it's a tribute issue rather than a standalone design.
2018 Topps Chrome
#150 Pitching
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2018 Topps Chrome #150 uses the same image as Ohtani's base card from Topps Series 2. While this card sits a tier below the Bowman Chrome #1 in terms of collector desirability, it occupies a meaningful space for collectors who prioritize Topps flagship lineage or prefer a wider variety of parallels to collect. Chrome delivers significantly more refractor options than Bowman, giving collectors at every budget something to chase. It's not the alpha rookie base card, but for those building a comprehensive Ohtani collection or favoring Topps Chrome's established brand equity, this card remains at the top of the list.
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2018 Topps Dynasty
#AP-SO Autographed Patches /10
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎💎💎
About the Card: The 2018 Topps Dynasty Autographed Patch marks Ohtani's first appearance in one of the Topps' premier high-end releases and is one of his most sought after cards. The set offers seven different Ohtani images across three parallels: base /10, /5, and 1/1. That structure creates 70 base copies, 35 /5s, and seven 1/1s—112 cards total, which may seem like a lot, but is far less than any of his other autographs we're talked about so far. As with any patch autograph, quality varies wildly from card to card: look for copies with bold, player-worn swatches and clean signature placement, as those details can significantly impact both eye appeal and long-term value.
2018 Topps Heritage
#SO Real One Autographs
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰-💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎
About the Card: The 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Auto brings Ohtani into one of Topps' most beloved retro-styled sets, capturing the nostalgia-driven design language that makes Heritage a fixture for vintage-minded collectors. Beyond the base autograph shown here, there's a red ink parallel numbered to /69 in homage to 1969, the year this Heritage design recreates. While Heritage autographs don't carry the same grail-tier weight as Bowman Chrome or Topps Dynasty cards, the Real One series has built a loyal following who value Topps' throwback aesthetic and on-card signatures.
2018 Topps Series 2
#700 Pitching
Prospective Card Cost: 💰-💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2018 Topps Series 2 #700 marks Ohtani's first appearance in Topps flagship, anchoring the end of the checklist in a slot typically reserved for the biggest names in the set. While it's a base card with a seemingly unlimited print run, the parallel structure offers meaningful chase options: the black /67, Independence Day /76, and vintage stock /99 sit at the top, with the black parallel standing as the oldest and most coveted outside of the 1/1 gold. It's photoshopped like most of Ohtani's early Angels cards, but the flagship pedigree and strong parallel availability cement it's spot as an iconic Ohtani rookie card.
2018 Topps Update
#US285
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎💎
About the Card: The 2018 Topps Update #US285 carries the "Rookie Debut" designation, a subset that's historically been overlooked by collectors despite its storied history. What's working in this card's favor is the image itself: it's one of the few hitting shots of Ohtani across Topps' flagship products, giving it visual distinction that his standard Update base card lacks. That detail has started to shift collector preference, with this card gaining traction over the more generic base card (#US1) as buyers prioritize on-field action. It features the same parallel structure collectors expect from Update and Series 2, making it accessible for parallel hunting while offering a more compelling image than much of Ohtani's early Topps flagship options.
2013 BBM Rookie Edition
#42 Batting
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2013 BBM Rookie Edition #42 holds the distinction of being among Ohtani's very first base cards, released in February 2013. BBM issued two "regular" cards in the set, a Pitching version and this Batting version, both sharing the same card number. Rookie Edition preceded BBM's flagship 1st Version release, making these cards the earliest widely available Ohtani issues for collectors who want to trace his career from the beginning. While they lack the iconic status of his 1st Version "Red Wing" rookie, they represent first card in Ohtani's cardboard catalog.
2020 Stadium Club
#145
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2020 Stadium Club Chrome #145 captures Ohtani at the plate with the kind of dynamic action photography that defines Stadium Club's reputation as the hobby's premier set for visual storytelling. While his 2018 rookie card featured a signing ceremony podium shot and 2019 offered a dugout portrait, 2020 marks the first year Stadium Club gave collectors an in-game image worthy of the brand's aesthetic standards. That shift has made this card significantly more popular than his earlier Stadium Club appearances, as collectors gravitate toward cards that reflect Ohtani's on-field excellence rather than ceremonial moments.
2024 Topps 50/50
#61 Chrome Gold Refractor /50
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰
Rarity: 💎
About the Card: The 2024 Topps Chrome 50/50 was a direct-to-customer release commemorating Ohtani's unprecedented 50 home run, 50 stolen base season, a milestone no player had ever achieved. Topps built a 105-card set around the feat, with 100 base cards documenting moments from his historic year and five unannounced "High Number" cards adding surprise chase value. Every base card was issued across 12 different parallels, and the set also includes relics and autographs, meaning this single release dramatically expands Ohtani's overall card catalog in terms of sheer volume.
2024 Topps Dynasty
#DAP-SO2 Autographed Patch /10
Prospective Card Cost: 💰💰💰💰💰
Rarity: 💎💎💎💎💎
About the Card: The 2024 Topps Dynasty marks Ohtani's first appearance in a Dodgers uniform within the product, but it's a far more complicated product than his earlier Dynasty issues. Collectors are navigating seven different variations, four Angels images and three Dodgers, each available in base /10, silver /5, and gold 1/1 parallels, creating a staggering amount of cards before you even factor in the additional inserts. Beyond the standard patch autos, Dynasty added Ohtani design variations, sponsor patches, special event baseball leather relics, autographed batting gloves, autographed MLB logo patches, two dual relic variations, and another dual autograph patch with Ichiro. There's a lot to navigate even for seasoned collectors.
A Few of My Favorites
The cards that follow aren't necessarily the most expensive or the rarest in Ohtani's catalog, they're the ones that resonate personally, whether for their design, their moment in time, or the way they capture something essential about collecting him.
Some offer cleaner aesthetics than their flagship counterparts, others freeze championship moments or showcase playful design risks that break from tradition. What ties them together is intentionality: these are cards chosen not only because the market demands them, but because they represent specific facets of Ohtani's hobby footprint that deserve attention.
2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire
#700
Why It's a Favorite: Ohtani's 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition #700 features a distinctive blue cracked ice design that gives Ohtani's flagship rookie an elevated aesthetic over his standard Topps Chrome parallels. Released as the first standalone offshoot of Topps Chrome, Sapphire Edition established itself as a premium alternative for collectors who wanted an elevated vibe to the Chrome aesthetic. The parallel structure is refreshingly simple: base with a print run rumored to be around 250, red /10, and a Superfractor 1/1.
2018 Topps Heritage
#600 Chrome Black Refractor /69
Why It's a Favorite: The 2018 Topps Heritage #600 Black Refractor /69 combines the nostalgic design appeal of Heritage with one of the set's rarest and standout parallels. Heritage has always been about recreating the tactile experience of vintage cards, but the black refractor treatment adds a modern chromium edge that stands out against the set's retro aesthetic. Numbered to /69 in tribute to the 1969 design this set honors, it's one of Ohtani's scarcest parallels in Heritage, offering collectors a rare middle ground between accessibility and true scarcity.
2018 Topps Update
#US1 Warm-Up Shirt SP
Why It's a Favorite: When you're building an Ohtani collection, the most expensive cards aren't always within reach. But there are plenty of mid-range cards, variations and parallels, that capture a specific moment or design choice that make the difference. The 2018 Topps Update #US1 Warm-Up Shirt is one of those cards: a straightforward image variation that leads off the Update checklist with a clean, candid shot of Ohtani in pre-game mode. The pop count mirrors his Series 2 "Batting Cage" image variation, making it relatively attainable compared to SSPs.
2024 Topps Chrome Cosmic
#17 Stars in the Night Red Flare /5
Why It's a Favorite: 2024 Topps Chrome Cosmic marks Ohtani's first appearance in a Dodgers uniform within the Topps Chrome Cosmic, a set that leans into whimsical, galaxy-inspired aesthetics rather than traditional no frills baseball card design. I selected the The Stars in the Night insert for this favorite spot because I think it offers a far more compelling image than his base card, which features an awkward mid-swing moment with Ohtani puffing his cheeks. The Red Flare /5 parallel adds legitimate scarcity to a card that already feels distinct. For collectors who appreciate design risk and visual storytelling that goes beyond standard action shots, this card captures both Ohtani's star power and the creative freedom that makes Chrome Cosmic one of my favorite releases of the year.
2025 Topps
#400 Golden Mirror Variation
Why It's a Favorite: The 2025 Topps #400 Golden Mirror is an image variation that depicts Ohtani hoisting the World Series trophy. Introduced in 2023, the Golden Mirror variation features an all-gold back that makes it instantly recognizable and sought after among Topps flagship collectors. It's a commemorative feeling card that feels different than the typical image variation. It's the perfect card for collectors or Dodger fans who are looking for a tangible memory of Ohtani's first World Series win.
Honorable Mentions
Additional Resources
The Definitive Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card Guide! by Scottie B Cards
The most comprehensive guide available today for Shohei Ohtani rookie cards and a big influence in preparing the content for this Player Profile.Ohtani's 2013 Baseball Card Chronology by Japanese Baseball Cards
A simple and informative overview of the Ohtani's 2013 (rookie year) cards released when we debuted for the Ham Fighters in the Nippon leage.Shohei Ohtani Baseball Reference
A go-to source for Ohtani's complete MLB stats, milestones, and award history. Helpful for tracking the on-field accomplishments that often drive card value.Card Ladder Player Index – Shohei Ohtani
Explore historical pricing trends, recent sales, and collector sentiment for Ohtani's cards tracked on the Ladder. A great tool for understanding market performance across sets and grades.PSA Set Registry – Shohei Ohtani Basic Set
Get a curated list of Ohtani's base cards recognized by PSA’s Registry. It’s a useful framework for collectors building a focused, registry-worthy PC.Trading Card Database (TCDB) – Shohei Ohtani
Searchable checklist of every Shohei Ohtani card, including base, parallels, inserts, and oddballs. Ideal for set collectors or anyone looking to complete a player run.
H/T to @scottie_b_cards and @Philmington for helping us construct Ohtani Player Profile! Highly reccomend their YouTube Show/Podcast - Spitballin' Cards if you don't subscribe already!