Shohei Ohtani is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and beloved players in baseball today. His impressive ability to both pitch and hit at an elite level has made him a fan favorite and has earned him the nickname "The Japanese Babe Ruth." His pitching prowess includes a fastball that reaches speeds of over 100 miles per hour and he’s got a devastating splitter that has batters shivering in their cleats. As a hitter, he has showcased impressive power and has displayed the ability to hit for both increasing his average and force when needed to bring in some runs. This isn’t just an Angels fan talking up his favorite pitcher: Since his debut in 2018, Shohei has become one of the most popular players in the MLB for his ability as well as his infectious energy.
Collectors and investors alike around the world are eager to get their hands on Shohei Ohtani cards, but with so many options available from card manufacturers these days, it can be difficult to know where to start. So let’s take a look at the best options for fans to pick up a prized Shohei Ohtaini card at just about every price point, from budget-friendly options to high-end investments for those seeking the most valuable and rare Shohei Ohtaini cards.
Don’t forget you can always track pricing on the cards of your favorite players on Cardbase or in the Cardbase App, including setting a Watchlist for cards you are seeking and monitoring the Hot Deals list for a chance to grab a card or two at below-market prices.
Budget-Friendly Shohei Ohtani Cards - Under $10
For collectors on a tighter budget, there are plenty of excellent Shohei Ohtani cards to choose from. These cards may not be as rare or valuable as some of the higher-end options, but they're a great way to add an Ohtani card to your collection without breaking the bank.
3) 2022 Topps Stars of MLB Shohei Ohtani #SMLB24 - $10 and up
This 2022 Topps Stars of MLB Shohei Ohtani #SMLB24 is an excellent place to start for those beginning a collection on a budget. The 2022 Topps Stars of MLB series has illustrations of players with an astral background of literal stars. Shohei Ohtani’s card shows him ready to blast one out of the park and it looks amazing. This 2022 baseball card is widely available online ungraded for just a few dollars so you can start out that collection for a minimal investment with a distinctive and beautiful card.
2) 2018 Topps Opening Day Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #200 - $10 and up
There’s no action shot on the 2018 Topps Opening Day Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #200, but it’s a solid moment of Shohei Ohtani speaking to the crowd on a special Opening Day card from his rookie year. Finding budget-friendly rookie cards is a feat now as Shohei’s star is really on the rise. Yet, you can still find ungraded copies of this card in the $10 range.
If you pick up a copy in mint condition or nearly so, get it graded and it will definitely be worth more money in the days ahead. Shohei has a long, successful career ahead of him and his cards are all going to get more valuable, especially the ones from his rookie year. Keep an eye on his card by tracking it from the card’s listing on Cardbase.
1) 2018 Topps Heritage Now & Then Shohei Ohtani #NT-11 - $10 and up
This special release baseball card from 2018 is just cool. Yes, it’s got the subtitle “Now & Then: California Dealin’” to add a little humor to the often staid feel of baseball cards. Plus, Shohei Ohtani is in an intriguing position - is that a signal to the catcher? Whatever the case, it’s an eye-catching card that commemorates a killer day on the mound for Shohei, when he made short work of the first 19 hitters from the Oakland A’s, including a dozen strikeouts. That was the “Now.” “Then” calls back to the 1969 introduction of four expansion teams. This series is fun for trivia buffs and it’s yet another great-looking Shohei Ohtani card worthy of any collection.
If you buy this 2018 Topps Heritage Now & Then Shohei Ohtani #NT-11 ungraded, you’ll be able to pick it up for $10 or so. If you start looking into graded copies, you can expect to pay at least $100 or more. Either way, this is a 2018 card from Shohei’s rookie year, so you can expect significant appreciation in its value.
Lower Cost Shohei Ohtani Cards - Under $50
If you're willing to spend a bit more on a Shohei Ohtani card, there are several mid-range options to consider. These cards may be a bit more expensive than the budget-friendly options, but they offer more value in terms of rarity and design.
3) 2018 Topps Chrome Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #150 - $20 and up
2018 Topps Chrome Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #150 is another excellent rookie card featuring the mighty Shohei is this pitching shot with him in his Angel whites about to blast one across the plate. It’s a clean image with a typically simple Topps design that keeps the focus on the athlete. This is another card with a wide range of pricing. If you have a PSA 10 Gem Mint copy, you will pay top dollar. However, if you check out the auctions and fixed price sales on Cardbase, you can still find ungraded copies
If you like this one a lot and want to spend a bit more, there are a variety of color-based refractor parallels available, too.
2) 2018 Topps Update Series Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #US1 - $15 to $50 and up
This is one of Shohei Ohtani’s key rookie cards and the pricing is all over the place. The pitching sensation looks amazing in his Angels red jersey with a look of determination to send that batter packing. This is one of his most popular rookie cards and the population of them is huge, but not all of them are in the best shape.
Finding ungraded copies for less than $50 is easy to do, but if you get a graded copy that is in minty-fresh condition, you can expect to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars. This is why it’s an ideal plan to pick up this card ungraded. Inspect the card for condition before you purchase and only buy one that is in tip-top shape. Check 2018 Topps Update Series Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #US1 on Cardbase for pricing guidelines. Then, send it to PSA or BGS to get a professional grading for your card.
Professional grading should significantly increase the value if you get an excellent grade. Of course, if the card you find isn’t in ideal shape, perhaps you’ll just have to add this gorgeous rookie card to your collection. Make sure to at least get it into a top-loader for protection because it’s still a rookie card that will increase in value over time.
1) 2018 Topps Update Shohei Ohtani Rookie Debut #US285 - $35 and up
One of the challenges with collecting Shohei Ohtani cards is whether you want cards with him batting as the team DH (designated hitter) or pitching from the mound. He’s such a dynamic player that I say you need both. 2018 Topps Update Shohei Ohtani Rookie Debut #US28 is a solid at-bat card with Shohei ready to power one out to the field. This card has the date of his rookie debut printed on it so it’s firmly in the category of rookie cards, meaning the value will keep increasing as this superstar continues to shine. Keep in mind that rookie cards are almost always among the most valuable cards a player will ever see.
While you can pick up an ungraded copy for under $50, graded copies in pristine condition will fetch quite a bit more. Check out that quality before you buy and you may be a simple grading process away from tripling your investment. Either way, this excellent card belongs in your collection.
Mid-Range Shohei Ohtani Cards - $100 to $500
In this price range, we start to see more special cards, limited editions, and refractors that offer a variant of base set cards. Keep in mind that some of these prices are for ungraded copies that will be much lower than cards that have been professionally graded.
3) 2018 Topps Future Stars Shohei Ohtani Insert Card #FS-5 - $100 - $250
The Topps Future Stars series is a part of their set dedicated to highlighting up-and-coming talent in the MLB. While the series presumably aims to predict which players will turn into significant performers, it doesn't always get it right. In the case of the 2018 Topps Future Stars card featuring Shohei Ohtani, the prediction was spot-on.
Ohtani's Future Stars card was included as an insert in the 2018 Topps set. An "insert" card refers to a special card that is not part of the regular numbered set and is inserted into packs at a predetermined ratio. While 2018 Topps Future Stars Shohei Ohtani Insert Card #FS-5 isn't technically considered a true rookie card due to the baseball card industry's definitions, it was released during Ohtani's debut year in the MLB. Therefore, it carries a certain level of desirability and significance akin to a rookie card.
The card features a striking photograph of Shohei, capturing his infectious joy for baseball. Not only is the card of potential financial value, but it also carries a certain aesthetic and emotional appeal for fans and collectors.
This card, graded at a PSA 10 Gem Mint rating, is on the top end of our estimates.
However, ungraded copies of this card are also available and can be purchased for less money. Collectors and investors who have a good eye for card conditions can find good deals this way. This card is sure to rise in value with the continued success of Shohei’s run in the MLB.
2) 2018 Panini Nat'l Rainbow Spokes Rookie /49 #119 - $400 - $500
Panini has the flashiest of cards in the industry and this Shohei Ohtani card showcases that perfectly. With an explosion of color rays, this wild design incorporates a sepia-tone close-up of Shohei’s face as he prepares to traverse the bases after what looks like another powerful swing. The design of this 2018 baseball card is unlike any other card I’ve seen and it certainly brings a special distinction to the rookie cards for the year. The colors and the spectacle on this card go right up to the limit of overwhelming, instead turning out an eye-popping image you won’t forget.
Panini only printed 49 copies of this card so it’s also a limited edition release, which is part of the reason it’s accelerated in value so quickly. In this case, a BGS 9.5 Gem Mint copy that was rated just about as good as it gets with that pro grader, sold for just shy of $450 but this price is bound to go up in the days ahead.
1) 2018 Bowman Sterling Refractors Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #BSSO - $445 to $995
This 2018 Bowman Sterling Refractors Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card #BSSO from the Sterling Continuity sub-series captures shots of Shohei Ohtani as a batter and a pitcher with a unique shiny surface. The card’s design is built around an horizontal oval that incorporates both images into the space effectively while still leaving room for a stylish border and a designation symbol noting it’s a rookie card. Shohei comes off well on the card, too. His steely glare up to bat looks sharp and is positioned well to face his thoughtful stare in the pitching photo. This is one beautiful card.
The pricing for the card ranges from the bottom end of this price bracket to the top, but even the lower-end listings are for graded cards on the top end of the scale. This is one to add to the collection to enjoy both its magnificence and the hefty increase in value it is sure to see.
High-End Shohei Ohtani Cards - $1000 and up
For collectors looking to make a serious investment in a Shohei Ohtani card, there are a ton of good high-end options available. These cards are often rare and feature autographs or unique design elements, making them highly sought-after by collectors around the world. Three of the very best are listed below.
3) 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Shohei Ohtani Auto Red Ink /69 #ROASO - $4,500 - $8,000
This excellent 2018 Topps Heritage Real One Shohei Ohtani Auto Red Ink /69 #ROASO card featuring an autograph is a fine collectible to celebrate the storied rookie year that Shohei had in 2018. While this card is a limited edition, it’s a relatively sizable population at 69 copies, which means the price is lower than you’d expect and there’s a range of sale prices as well. While some might take issue with the autograph appearing over Shohei’s uniform, this Angels fan says it looks good because the stylish autograph is in red ink to match his team colors.
If you can wait a bit to get this fine collectible, you might be able to acquire one for less than $5,000. However, PSA 10 Gem Mint copies with a similar grading for the autograph will run a collector more like $8,000.
2) 2018 Topps Transcendent Shohei Ohtani Rookie Autograph Series - $2,000 - $7,000
The Topps Transcendent series is the company’s most high-end, exclusive offering for baseball cards. Introduced in 2016, the Transcendent series is known for its limited production, high-quality design and card stock, and special features like foil stamping or holographic elements. They are also often paired with VIP event invitations, which is a special event hosted by Topps that offers collectors the chance to meet baseball players and potentially receive additional exclusive cards or memorabilia.
Given the high price point and exclusive nature of this product, it is primarily targeted towards serious collectors and investors but there’s a lot of variation if you are shopping in this category. Many of the lower-end cost cards here are printed in larger quantities, but here we’ll highlight one of the 2018 Transcendent cards that was limited to just three.
That’s why an ungraded but authentic copy from the publisher sold for almost $7,000 in June 2023. If you are interested in investing in a collectible in this price range, look around and you can find all kinds of pictures, but I think this one looks about the best with that circular frame and the signature over his name.
1) 2018 Bowman Chrome Red Refractor Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card /5 #SO - $49,200 - $240,000
Any of the cards on this list are wonderful additions to a baseball card collection. They all honor Shohei’s accomplishments and special experience he brings to the game. If, however, you are seeking an exclusive crowning jewel for a high-end collection of baseball cards, this is one of the ideal cards to add to your collection. Bowman did a wonderful job capturing an exceptional picture from Shohei’s rookie year for this Chrome Refractor variant. The image shows Shohei in the midst of one of his powerhouse pitches, perfectly encapsulating the furious energy he shows on the mound. Bowman also shows restraint in letting the action be the main attraction on the card, keeping the design clean and elegant. It’s a dazzler of a card.
There are only 5 of these Bowman Chrome Red Refractors and the price here is based on one that sold in July 2022 with a PSA 9 Mint grade plus a perfect 10 on the autograph. This card is surging in value, having seen a $100,000 increase in one year. Even so, keep an eye out if you must have this card because a similar one sold later the same year for much less, giving us the lower end of the range above. If Shohei Ohtani keeps turning in years like he has been lately, we can expect these cards to keep accelerating in value.
Shohei Ohtani is a Future Hall of Famer and his Cards are a solid Investment
Even if I wasn’t a diehard Angels fan, I’d still say that Shohei Ohtani is destined to be remembered as one of the best baseball players of this era. Yes, his versatility is thrilling but there’s more to his baseball persona than just performance. Shohei has a clear love of the game that inspires his teammates and fans alike.
The greatest sports stars don’t just impress us with their athleticism; they help us connect with the game on an emotional level. Shohei’s enthusiasm and passion come through so clearly in his on-field efforts as well as in his off-field interactions. Inspiring a deeper love of the sport is an ideal way to become a superstar and Shohei is well on his way to that goal.
Whether you're a casual collector or a serious investor, hopefully our list of the best Shohei Ohtani cards for every budget has given you some options for expanding your collection or beginning one devoted to this exceptional player. Happy collecting!
