Shohei Ohtani ignites hobby as card sales continue to rise

Imagine what collectors would be paying for Shohei Ohtani memorabilia if the L.A. Dodgers’ two-way superstar didn’t get off to such a slow start at the plate in 2026. He was hitting a very human .269 with only nine homers through 50 games.

But wait—at the same time, this baseball unicorn has become an all-world pitcher who takes regular turns in the Dodgers’ rotation. Through nine starts, he had an obscenely low ERA of 0.82 with 61 strikeouts in 55 innings and a 5-2 record, including a six-inning no-hitter against Colorado May 27.

The scuttlebutt surrounding Ohtani is that he’s determined to add a Cy Young Award to his hardware collection. That may sound selfish to some, but the Dodgers have embraced “the zone” into which Ohtani disappears when he’s on the mound. He’s been nearly unhittable in ‘26, allowing only 28 base knocks in his first 55 innings.

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Health permitting, he’s poised to set records as a hurler, which has collectors continuing to open wallets wide for cream-of-the-crop items. Look no further than eBay and the first item on our Top 10 chart: an autographed 2013 Japanese-issue BBM card picturing Ohtani as a phenom with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan. Some 93 bids pushed the card, marked #10/10, to $126,655.

BBM, by the way, is Baseball Magazine Sha Co., the “Topp of Japan.” BBM put out some of the earliest mainstream Ohtani cards in multiple series in 2013. Today, collectors dig deep to acquire those cards. Autographed rarities especially create a frenzy among collectors. For example, a 2013 BBM autographed parallel insert sold for $430,050 at Goldin. Another example graded BGS 9.5 sold for $366,732.

But back to online auctions on eBay: While the BBM card noted above topped our current chart, two other Ohtani items placed on our “next 10” list. A 2022 Topps Dynasty signed patch card (marked #4/5 and graded PSA 10) sold for $33,100. And an ungraded 2025 Topps Definitive Collection signed booklet with an embedded patch sold for $30,000.

Nearly making our “next 10” was an ungraded 2018 Topps Chrome signed Blue Wave Refractor Ohtani card marked #78/150. It brought $26,200 on 26 bids.

These prices may sound out of reach, but keep scouting and searching out treasures. More than 350,000 listings pop up on eBay when you search “Ohtani.” Look for pieces that appeal to your eye—and worry about speculative values later.

Through May 25

1. $125,655 on 93 bids: 2013 BBM Shohei Ohtani, #10/10, auto (ungraded)

2. $74,645 on 22 bids: 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, #49/99, auto patch (BGS 9.5)

3. $56,510 on 88 bids: 2025-26 Bowman Chrome LeBron James Anime Red Refractor, #3/5 (PSA 10)

4. $46,600 on 79 bids: 2006-07 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Michael Jordan, #12/15, auto patch (PSA 5, auto 10)

5. $45,118 on 57 bids: 2023-24 Panini Prizm Victor Wembanyama Glitter Prizm (PSA 10)

6. $44,330 on 49 bids: 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup Wayne Gretzky Hardwood Heroes, #1/1, auto (ungraded)

7. $41,800 on 67 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 9)

8. $41,311 on 87 bids: 2023-24 Panini Prizm Victor Wembanyama Gold Sparkle Prizm, #14/24 (PSA 10)

9. $40,756 on 82 bids: 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup Sidney Crosby, #14/99, auto patch (BGS 9, auto 10)

10. $39,155 on 59 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan (PSA 4)

The next 10 top sellers on eBay:

• $36,100 on 38 bids: 2009-10 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry, #279/999 (PSA 10)

• $34,848 on 56 bids: 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup Alexander Ovechkin (#68/99, auto patch)

• $33,100 on 54 bids: 2022 Topps Dynasty Shohei Ohtani, #4/5, auto patch (PSA 10)

• $31,101 on 63 bids: 2022 Topps Dynasty UEFA Champions League soccer Lionel Messi, #5/5, auto patch (PSA 8)

• $30,822 on 79 bids: 1966-67 Topps Bobby Orr (KSA 10)

• $30,680 on 70 bids: 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor (BGS 7.5)

• $30,000 on 1 bid: 2025 Topps Definitive Shohei Ohtani Autograph Patch Book, #5/5, auto patch (ungraded)

• $28,988 on 52 bids: 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols Refractor, edition of 500, auto (PSA 9)

• $28,600 on 36 bids: 2003-04 Topps 1st Edition LeBron James (PSA 10)

• $27,600 on 94 bids: 2025-26 Topps Chrome Dylan Harper Rookie Autos, #4/5, auto (PSA 10)

• $26,878 on 55 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (KSA 10)