Over the past few years, the sports card industry has witnessed a surge in sales, with numerous cards reaching unprecedented values, some even surpassing the million-dollar mark. However, amidst the flurry of high-value transactions, one notable player stands out for his absence in the million-dollar club: Shohei Ohtani. Despite his stellar performances and massive fan following, Ohtani’s highest recorded sale remains below $400,000, marking a unique distinction in the current era of soaring card prices.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees gear up for an epic showdown in the World Series, Topps, the iconic sports card company, unveiled a graphic highlighting the most expensive cards for some of this year’s standout players:
– Jasson Dominguez: $474,000
– Aaron Judge: $324,000
– Juan Soto: $300,000
– Anthony Volpe: $150,000
– Mookie Betts: $123,000
Leading the pack is Jasson Dominguez, a rising star in the Yankees’ roster, with his 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph fetching an impressive $474,000. Additionally, Anthony Volpe’s rare red Bowman Chrome autograph, limited to just five copies, commanded a hefty price of $150,000 for a PSA 10 graded card, solidifying his position as another high-value collectible within the Yankees lineup.
Juan Soto’s noteworthy 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph card has a peculiar tale attached to it. The autograph on this piece underwent alterations and subsequent regrading, leading to rumors that PSA repurchased the card, effectively making it unavailable in the current market.
Earlier this year, Fanatics and Sotheby’s collaborated on an auction that showcased some of the industry’s most coveted cards, including a few featured in the Topps graphic. Nonetheless, there seems to be a discrepancy in Topps’ reported figures for Shohei Ohtani’s card. Recent data from prominent platforms like eBay and CardLadder hint at a potentially higher value for Ohtani’s collectibles, with a 2018 Topps Definitive Gold Framed Shohei Ohtani Rookie Auto BGS 9.5 card numbered 13/30 reportedly selling for $350,000 on October 15. This suggests that Ohtani’s highest sale might be approaching the coveted half-million mark after all, challenging previous assumptions.
The World Series not only promises thrilling on-field action but also sets the stage for a captivating rivalry in the sports card market, with collectors closely monitoring the values of these coveted pieces of memorabilia. As the Dodgers and Yankees vie for baseball supremacy, the stakes are not only high on the diamond but also in the realm of sports card collectibles, where every auction and sale adds a new chapter to the intricate narrative of this ever-evolving industry.