Sports cards have become a hot commodity in recent years, particularly with certain cards fetching jaw-dropping prices well into the million-dollar range. Among the elite players commanding such high values, there’s one notable absence from the million-dollar club – Shohei Ohtani. Despite his incredible talent and massive fan base, Ohtani’s highest-selling card has yet to breach the $400,000 mark, a surprising revelation in the current trend of skyrocketing card values.
With the Dodgers and Yankees squaring off in the World Series, Topps recently unveiled a captivating graphic spotlighting the priciest 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
The Yankees’ roster dominates the top ranks, with Jasson Dominguez leading the pack courtesy of his 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph, which commanded an impressive $474,000. Another notable mention goes to Anthony Volpe, whose red Bowman Chrome autograph, limited to just five copies, fetched a hefty $150,000 for a PSA 10 graded version, solidifying his status as a high-value card in the Yankees’ lineup.
Juan Soto’s 1/1 Bowman Superfractor Autograph has an intriguing back story, having undergone an autograph alteration and subsequent regrading. Speculations suggest that the card was repurchased by PSA, effectively removing it from the market.
Earlier in the year, a collaboration between Fanatics and Sotheby’s culminated in an auction featuring top-tier cards from the sports card industry, showcasing some of the pieces highlighted in Topps’ graphic. However, there seems to be a discrepancy in Topps’ reported figures for Shohei Ohtani’s card. Recent data from eBay and CardLadder revealed that a 2018 Topps Definitive Gold Framed Shohei Ohtani Rookie Auto BGS 9.5, numbered 13/30, was sold for $350,000 on October 15. This development suggests that Ohtani’s highest-selling card might be inching closer to the half-million-dollar milestone after all.
As the excitement of the World Series unfolds, the world of sports cards continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike, with each sale adding another chapter to the ever-evolving narrative of this thriving market.
