Over the past years, the world of sports cards has witnessed an incredible surge in sales, with multiple cards breaching the million-dollar milestone. Despite this trend, there is one notable omission from the million-dollar club, and it’s none other than the sensational Shohei Ohtani. Despite his exceptional talent and immense popularity among fans, Ohtani’s highest-selling card falls short of $400,000, a rare occurrence in an era of astronomical card values.
With the Dodgers and Yankees battling it out in the World Series, Topps recently unveiled a revealing graphic spotlighting the most valuable cards of key players in this year’s lineup. Leading the charge is Jasson Dominguez, with his 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph commanding an impressive $474,000 – setting the bar high for the rest. Following closely behind is Aaron Judge with a notable $324,000, showcasing the enduring appeal of the Yankees star among collectors.
Juan Soto secures a spot among the top-selling cards with his 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph, although it comes with a twist. Rumors suggest that the autograph underwent alterations and was consequently regraded. Reports indicate that PSA repurchased the card, rendering it unavailable in the current market, adding an intriguing layer to the card’s mystique and value.
The Yankees players dominate the upper echelons of the sales chart, with Anthony Volpe’s red Bowman Chrome autograph proving to be another prized possession among collectors. Limited to just five copies, the card in a PSA 10 condition fetched an impressive $150,000, further solidifying the Yankees’ strong presence in the sports card market.
Mookie Betts also makes an appearance in the Topps list, with his card reaching a notable $123,000, underscoring the enduring popularity of the Dodgers star in the collectors’ realm.
Earlier this year, a collaboration between Fanatics and Sotheby’s resulted in an auction that showcased some of the industry’s most coveted cards, including a few featured in Topps’ recent graphic. However, discrepancies arise when examining the reported figures for Shohei Ohtani’s card. Recent data sourced from eBay and CardLadder shed light on a substantial sale of a 2018 Topps Definitive Gold Framed Shohei Ohtani Rookie Auto BGS 9.5, numbered 13/30, which fetched a staggering $350,000 on October 15. This development suggests that Ohtani’s highest-selling card may be inching closer to that coveted half-million mark, challenging the notion of his exclusion from the elite million-dollar club.
As the World Series intensifies and the battle between the Dodgers and Yankees unfolds on the field, the competition for the most valuable sports cards also rages on, with collectors and fans eagerly eyeing the high-stakes transactions that accompany these iconic matchups.
