Shohei Ohtani
JAPANESE PRE-MLB ROOKIE CARDS
Earliest Rookie Release
2013 BBM Rookie Edition #42
Pitching and batting variations
Pitching and batting variations
Japanese Flagship Rookie
2013 BBM 1st Version #183
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Additional Early Cards
2013 BBM 2nd Version #554
2013 Calbee Exciting Rookie #D-07
2013 Calbee Star Card #S-61
2013 Calbee Exciting Rookie #D-07
2013 Calbee Star Card #S-61
Collector’s Note
Long before his 2018 MLB rookie cards,
Shohei Ohtani appeared in Japanese baseball
card releases as a member of the
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
His 2013 BBM Rookie Edition #42 is among his earliest pack-issued cards, while the 2013 BBM 1st Version #183 is particularly significant as his Japanese flagship rookie.
These cards document the beginning of Ohtani’s professional career and offer collectors an alternative to his heavily pursued 2018 Topps and Bowman rookies. Pitching and batting variations are especially interesting given his historic two-way career.
Collectors should distinguish authentic autographs from printed facsimile signatures, which appear on some Japanese issues.
His 2013 BBM Rookie Edition #42 is among his earliest pack-issued cards, while the 2013 BBM 1st Version #183 is particularly significant as his Japanese flagship rookie.
These cards document the beginning of Ohtani’s professional career and offer collectors an alternative to his heavily pursued 2018 Topps and Bowman rookies. Pitching and batting variations are especially interesting given his historic two-way career.
Collectors should distinguish authentic autographs from printed facsimile signatures, which appear on some Japanese issues.
Research Source
EARLIEST BOWMAN APPEARANCE
Sealed Product
2017 Bowman Chrome Mega Box
Card to Hunt
Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP31
(World Baseball Classic image)
Collector Note
An early pre-MLB Bowman appearance,
not a conventional 1st Bowman autograph.
BOWMAN ROOKIE
Sealed Product
2018 Bowman Baseball
Card to Hunt
Bowman Paper #49 (RC)
Rookie Autograph
Chrome Rookie Autograph #CRA-SO
BOWMAN CHROME ROOKIE
Sealed Product
2018 Bowman Chrome Baseball
Card to Hunt
Bowman Chrome #1 (RC)
Rookie Autograph
Bowman Chrome Rookie Autograph #BCRA-SO
FIRST FLAGSHIP ROOKIE
Sealed Product
2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball
Card Number
#700 (RC)
Additional Flagship Rookie
2018 Topps Update #US1 (RC)
CHROME ROOKIE
Sealed Product
2018 Topps Chrome Baseball
Card Number
#150 (RC)
Additional Chrome Rookie
2018 Topps Chrome Update #HMT1 (RC)
HIGHEST REPORTED CARD SALE
Sale Price
$11,000,000
Card
2025 Topps Chrome Back-to-Back Gold
Logoman Autograph Relic 1/1
Transaction
Reported private sale
Sale Date
July 2026
Source
Diamond & Cardboard | Hobby Stars Library
Ohtani’s Japanese professional rookie cards
predate his U.S. Bowman and Topps releases.
Highest reported sale reflects the cited
transaction, including private sales;
newer transactions may exceed this figure.
Some eBay links may be affiliate links. Diamond & Cardboard may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.