Sports card sales have been reaching new heights in recent years, with several cards breaking the million-dollar threshold. Amidst these record-breaking sales, one notable absence from the million-dollar club is Shohei Ohtani, a standout player with a strong fan base. Despite his popularity and prowess in the sport, Ohtani’s highest sale remains under $400,000, marking a unique position in the era of high-value transactions.
As the World Series unfolds with the Dodgers taking on the Yankees, Topps unveiled a graphic showcasing the most expensive cards for some of this year’s key players. Leading the pack is Jasson Dominguez with a staggering sale of $474,000 for his 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph. Following closely is Aaron Judge at $324,000, Juan Soto at $300,000, and Anthony Volpe at $150,000, with Mookie Betts rounding up the list at $123,000.
The Yankees players dominate the top of the sales chart, with Jasson Dominguez’s Bowman Superfractor Autograph stealing the spotlight. Anthony Volpe’s red Bowman Chrome autograph, limited to just five copies, fetched an impressive $150,000 for a PSA 10 version, cementing his status as another high-value card within the Yankees’ lineup.
A special mention goes to Juan Soto’s 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph, which has an intriguing backstory. The autograph underwent alterations and was subsequently regraded. Rumors suggest that PSA repurchased the card, making it no longer available in the market, adding an element of rarity to its value.
Earlier this year, Fanatics and Sotheby’s collaborated on an auction featuring some of the industry’s top cards, including several highlighted in the Topps graphic. However, there seems to be a disparity in the reported figures for Shohei Ohtani’s card. Recent data from eBay and CardLadder indicate that a 2018 Topps Definitive Gold Framed Shohei Ohtani Rookie Auto BGS 9.5, numbered 13/30, sold for $350,000 on October 15. This suggests that Ohtani’s highest sale might be on the verge of hitting the half-million mark, emphasizing his growing value in the sports card market.
