Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate not only on the baseball field but also in the realm of collectibles. The “Holy Grails” auction, a unique collaboration between Fanatics Collect and Sotheby’s, witnessed Ohtani’s rookie card making history on Tuesday night in Harlem.
The spotlight of the evening was on Ohtani’s exclusive 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Autographs Superfractor rookie card, which fetched an astounding $336,000. This sale shattered the previous record for an Ohtani card, set at $312,000 in December 2021. Remarkably, the same card saw a remarkable surge in value from $4,800 in May 2019 to $62,730 in October 2021 before hitting the groundbreaking $336,000 mark. Sotheby’s initial estimate of the card’s worth ranged from $80,000 to $120,000, but Ohtani’s phenomenal on-field achievements, including his groundbreaking 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, propelled the card to soar beyond all expectations.
Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of collectibles, expressed his delight, stating, “I think my favorite thing in the sale was, in a way, the Ohtani card. That’s why I put it in lot one.”
The event took place at Harlem Parish, a former church transformed into an elegant event venue, where distinguished personalities like NFL great Tom Brady, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, social media sensation Logan Paul, and rapper Meek Mill were in attendance.
A noteworthy highlight of the night unfolded as Kraft, seated alongside Brady in the front row, grabbed headlines by acquiring a Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph card for $120,000.
Amidst the fervor, several other significant sales added to the excitement, such as the 2022 Bowman Chrome 1st Bowman Prospect Autograph Superfractor card of burgeoning MLB talent Elly De La Cruz, which commanded a price of $360,000, surpassing Ohtani’s record-setting sale.
The pinnacle moment of the evening came with the auction of a 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card featuring basketball icons Michael Jordan and Julius Erving. This unique card, adorned with game-used NBA logo patches from the legends’ jerseys, fetched an astonishing $780,000.
The “Holy Grails” auction curated an extraordinary collection of rare and coveted sports memorabilia, with Ohtani’s groundbreaking sale setting the stage for an evening filled with breathtaking bids and iconic acquisitions.
