Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card Guide: Checklist, Values & Where to Buy
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Shohei Ohtani can seemingly do it all.
Since joining the major leagues from his native Japan in 2018, the two-way megastar has amassed three MVP awards and four all-star nods, the Rookie of the Year Award, baseball’s first 50-50 season, a World Baseball Classic gold medal, and in 2024, a World Series title with the Dodgers.
While many pitchers throughout MLB history have showcased home run power, such as Mike Hampton, and Babe Ruth famously shifted from pitching to hitting, and Negro League stars such as Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe were known to both pitch and play the field, two-way players aren’t common.
Especially two-way players this good.
“Shotime” signed with Los Angeles in December 2017 but struggled living up to the hype during his first spring training — so much so, that there was even talk of having him start in the minor leagues. But Ohtani made the big league roster and hasn’t looked back.
The timing of his signing with the Angels also allowed a full slate of Rookie Card releases in 2018. The rookie class was a strong one that also contained superstars Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna, Jr.
Ohtani’s success has made him a favorite of collectors, and there are RCs of Ohtani available at any price point — from a few dollars to thousands of dollars.
If you don’t know where to start building your Ohtani collection, here’s a look at his Rookie Cards.
2018 Bowman #49
One of Ohtani’s more memorable, plentiful and affordable rookie cards shows him after delivering a pitch. In addition to the base version, there are also many low-numbered parallels. The same design was used for Ohtani’s Chrome Rookie Autographs, including a 1/1 Superfractor, making this one of his most memorable RCs.
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2018 Bowman Chrome #1
In addition to Bowman, Ohtani also appeared in Bowman Chrome. His regular card shows him at the plate, while image variations exist of him carrying a bag over his shoulder.
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2018 Bowman Platinum #34
This colorful release was a Walmart exclusive. Parallels and a “bag on shoulder” photo variation card also exist.
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2018 Bowman’s Best #1
Atomic! Ohtani led off the iconic mid-1990s brand with the first card in the product.
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2018 Panini Chronicles Classics #7 and #13
Ohtani appears twice in this vintage-minded product, as a pitcher on card #7 and as a DH on card #13.
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2018 Diamond Kings #73 and #76
This art-focused brand featured Ohtani on two base rookie cards, two short-prints, and well over 100 parallels, from cards featuring his name in Japanese to some noting his nickname “Japanese Babe Ruth.”
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2018 Donruss #281 Rated Rookie
Rated Rookies are a Donruss staple, and Ohtani received his own Rated Rookie in special wrapper redemption packs of 2018 Donruss.
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2018 Donruss Optic #56 Rated Rookie
Like the regular Donruss set, but on chrome card stock. Optic features a host of numbered parallels and variations, some autographed.
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2018 Finest #100
Ohtani’s first Finest card shows him preparing to uncork a powerful swing. Refractors and autographs from the product are among his more popular rookie releases.
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2018 Immaculate Collection #37 /99 JSY AU
The real deal. This product was all about hits, and it contained one of Ohtani’s harder-to-find Rookie Patch Autographs.
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2018 Limited #18
Ohtani’s Limited RC, from the expansive Chronicles release, features a clean design and shows the two-way star preparing to deliver a pitch.
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2018 Panini Chronicles #1 and #30
Chronics was jam-packed with Ohtani RCs across various brands. His pitcher card, #1 in the product, features the line “another slice of history.” His batter card, #30, dubs him “the best player in the world.” Yes and yes.
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2018 Panini Cornerstones #25 JSY AU
One of the prettiest and priciest Ohtani RCs features four jersey pieces, representing the four bases on a diamond, and a signature in blue.
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2018 Panini Crusade #14
Crusade, a reimagining of the popular 1990s Donruss insert set, shows Ohtani pitching against a coat of arms backdrop.
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2018 Panini Illusions #12
Another RC from Chronicles, Illusions features dual images of Ohtani and a foil background.
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2018 Panini National Treasures #48 JSY AU/99 RC
Top of the line. National Treasures is among the most prominent high-end brands, and Ohtani’s National Treasures RPA is, accordingly, among his most sought-after rookie cards.
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2018 Panini Phoenix #20
Another rookie card from Chronicles is Phoenix, a brand that has had more popularity with basketball and football releases.
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2018 Panini Prizm #23
Prizm is well known for its chromium card stock and many parallels, and Ohtani’s Prizm cards come in a few dozen different parallels, among them the Silver Prizm shown here.
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2018 Panini Revolution #6
Revolution is a fun, colorful product, and Ohtani’s Revolution RC features lots of holographic foil and etching. Some collectors may think the design is too busy. Others may think it’s just right.
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2018 Panini Spectra Holo #35 and #76
If you’re a fan of colorful designs and etching, Ohtani’s cards from this product could be a great addition to your collection.
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2018 Panini Status #1
Another Chronics-featured product. Ohtani’s rookie card in Status is simple and unassuming.
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2018 Prestige #3 and #28
For collectors of clean, simple designs, you can do a lot worse than Ohtani’s two RCS and various parallels and inserts from Prestige (via Chronicles).
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2018 Rookies and Stars #1
Rookies? Stars? Rookies and Stars? Ohtani proved to be a fitting choice to lead off the checklist for this brand.
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2018 Score #11 and #16
For collectors of a certain age, especially football card collectors, the name Score carries a special place in the hobby.
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2018 Select #3
Select has, for years, been a fun and underrated product, one that’s on the affordable side but that has higher-end aspirations.
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2018 Stadium Club #138
Ohtani’s Stadium Club RC shows him at the podium at his introductory press conference. An SSP version features an image of him pitching.
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2018 Studio #3
Wouldn’t it have been fun to see Ohtani get the full Studio treatment, with a school photo background and maybe even a bird perched over his shoulder? Instead, Ohtani is pitching on this Chronicles issue.
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2018 Topps #700
You could use a guide for Ohtani’s 2018 Topps cards alone. Photo variations? In addition to the base design, there is #700A, showing the two-way star in a red pullover, #700B, with his hand on his helmet, and a retail factory variation, #700D, which shows a sideways shot of him pitching with a red glove (#700C features Babe Ruth, a nod to that other player who pitched and hit at a superior level). Parallels? Too many to list. The highlights include gold (serial numbered to 2018), Black, (numbered to 67), Rainbow foil (not numbered), and even a Clear acetate version (numbered to 10). This design was also used for other Topps products, such as Chrome.
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2018 Topps Allen and Ginter #100
Allen and Ginter harkens back to the early days of trading cards, the late 1800s, when cards were regularly included in cigarette packs. A&G cards include standard-sized and mini versions, and the minis have various different back designs.
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2018 Topps Allen and Ginter X #100
An online-only carryover from the initial A&G set, Ginter X features a black background.
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2018 Topps Archives #50
This nostalgic product featured Ohtani on a 1959 Topps design. His base card shows him in a pitching stance, while variations show him in a hitting stance or without a facsimile signature on the card.
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2018 Topps Archives Snapshots #ASSO
Archives Snapshots is an online-only product that prioritizes candid shots and seldom-seen images from Topps’ vault.
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2018 Topps Big League #141
This kid-focused, fun release is one of Ohtani’s more affordable Topps RCs.
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2018 Topps Chrome #150
Chrome is king, and Shohei’s Chome RC — a chrome-stock version of his Topps RC — is one of his most popular cards from his rookie season, with low-numbered parallel and autographed versions selling for thousands (and even tens of thousands) of dollars. His base Chrome RC is much more affordable and a great addition for anyone building an Ohtani collection. Image variation cards also show Ohtani running.
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2018 Topps Chrome Update #HMT1
A later-year release, Topps Chrome Update offered collectors another chance to find cards of Ohtani and other key rookies Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna, Jr. The colors really pop in this product, including pink refractors.
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2018 Topps Clearly Authentic Autographs #CAASO
This one-card-per-box product, featuring autographed clear acetate cards, yielded one of Ohtani’s harder-to-find RCs.
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2018 Topps Diamond Icons Autographs #ACSO
It’s understandable if you haven’t come across this card or product before. The autographed card was low-numbered (to 25 copies, as well as parallels) and was only available in a box that sold for more than $1,000.
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2018 Topps Dynasty Autograph Patches
Dynasty is one of Topps’ higher-end products and typically includes one autographed patch or memorabilia card numbered to 10 or lower. Ohtani appears on multiple designs and, all told, autographed a little over 100 cards for Dynasty.
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2018 Topps Fire #150
It’s time for some fire and flames and wild designs. A lower-end product, Fire delivered lots of fun parallels and creative designs.
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2018 Topps Five Star Autographs #FSASO
Ohtani signed cards for this high-end product, from parallels to even some autographs in silver and gold ink.
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2018 Topps Gallery #116
The artwork for Ohtani’s Gallery RC was created by Mayumi Seto, whose lifelike depictions of players were also showcased in the popular Topps Living Set.
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2018 Topps Gold Label Class 1 #17
A reimagining of a Topps product from yesteryear, Gold Label features three tiers or classes, all of which include different images. Class 1 is the most common.
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2018 Topps Gypsy Queen #89
Ohtani’s RC from this quirky mid-range product include lots of variations, including missing nameplate, missing backplate and Bazooka backs.
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2018 Topps Heritage #600
Ohtani was a centerpiece of the “High Number” Heritage release that shows him on the 1969 Topps design. His red-ink autographs, numbered to only 69 copies each, are among his most coveted cards.
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2018 Topps High Tek #HTSO
“High Tek” is a callback to Topps’ earlier Tek product that featured players against dozens of holographic designs.
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2018 Topps Museum Collection #100
Boxes of the higher-end Museum Collection included four mini-boxes — each containing at least one autographed or memorabilia card, and many chances to get coveted Ohtanis.
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2018 Topps Opening Day #200
A longtime early-season Topps release, Opening Day featured a RC of Ohtani with an image from his introductory press conference marking his first public appearance for the Angels.
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2018 Topps Transcendent #10
Transcendent is more than a card brand, it’s an experience. All cards in 2018 Transcendent were numbered to 83 or lower and were given to event attendees who also got the chance to chat with Ohtani’s Angels teammate Mike Trout.
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2018 Topps Update #US1
Ohtani led off the Topps Update set, which also showed him palling around with teammates and chatting with fellow Japanese icon Ichiro Suzuki.
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2018 Topps Holiday Snowflake #HMW17
Topps rounded out Ohtani’s RC offerings with a snow- and holiday-themed product available at Walmart that played off of the year’s flagship design.
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