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Shohei shows how, and card collectors respond
There’s a truly wonderful card in Topps’ 1969 baseball set titled “Ted Shows How.” It pictures a spring training photograph of then-Washington Senators manager Ted Williams instructing first baseman Mike Epstein on the finer points of hitting.
Now may be the time for a sequel: a Topps card called “Shohei Shows How.” It should feature a photograph from Sept. 19, 2024 accompanied by text reflecting the gaudy details of Shohei Ohtani’s hitting that night. All he did was rack up six hits in six at-bats, score four runs, hit three homers, steal two bases and drive in 10 (ten!) runs.
Afterward, a Wall Street Journal headline posed this rhetorical question: “Did Shohei Ohtani Just Have the Greatest Game of All Time?”
Well, yes! Not only was it an otherworldly great performance, but it gave him exactly 51 HRs and 51 steals for the year. Having become the first player to post a 50/50 campaign, can a 60/60 season be far behind.
Collectors by now aren’t surprised. That’s why bidding on Ohtani memorabilia has been at a fever peak. Over the past three months on eBay, more than 20 Ohtani cards have sold for upwards of $10,000—and that’s just auction listings, excluding Buy It Now sales.
Here’s a look at Ohtani highlights from the past three months (pay special attention to the number of bids):
• $16,600 on 67 bids for a 2018 Bowman Chrome autographed Green Refractor graded BGS 9.5. It’s marked #22/99.
• $15,465 on 103 bids for a 2018 Topps Definitive signed Rookie Autograph card graded PSA Gem-Mint 10. This one is marked #41/50 and features a painted illustration of Ohtani.
• $14,977 on 47 bids for a 2018 Bowman Chrome signed Blue Refractor graded BGS 9.5. It was marked #142/150. Shortly after this sale ended, another Blue Refractor—also BGS 9.5—turned up as a Buy-It-Now item offered for $24,000. It’s marked #46/150.
• $13,800 on 85 bids for an ungraded 2018 Topps Transcendent card marked #1/1. The design of this autographed rarity is based on Topps’ 1987 design.
• $13,544 on 33 bids for a 2018 Topps Chrome signed Sapphire card graded BGS 9.5.
• $13,100 on 31 bids and $12,700 on 51 bids for two 2018 Bowman Chrome signed rookie cards graded PSA 10 and featuring Ohtani on the mound.
• $12,900 on 36 bids for a 2018 Bowman Chrome autographed rookie card capturing Ohtani at the plate. This one also was graded PSA 10.
• $12,600 on 50 bids for a 2018 Bowman Sterling signed Orange Refractor graded BGS 9.5 and marked #5/25.
To circle back to that beautiful old “Ted Shows How” card, we’ll let you know that Gem-Mint 10 rarities can fetch $800 to $1,200. On eBay, a PSA 9 specimen recently sold for $217, while two PSA 8 examples got away for $46 and $39. Not bad, considering the card’s inherent charm.
