It’s barely the start of spring, but the baseball card scene is already hotter than a midsummer day in the Mojave, and the reason is none other than Shohei Ohtani. The release of the 2025 Topps Baseball Series 1 has emphatically crowned Ohtani as the sovereign of the modern card market, quenching the thirst of collectors with a generosity rivaled only by an open bar at a wedding.
In a world where vintage charm like that of Barry Bonds and Frank Thomas mingles alongside delightful oddities—think of a card featuring Larry David eyeballing a baseball—Ohtani’s reign is undisputed. While the others make their mark, it’s Ohtani’s cards that are lapping the field in a race where they’re the only horse worth betting on.
The figures speak for themselves. The eyes of card aficionados have been almost exclusively glued to Ohtani’s exploits, leaving little room for rivals. According to Card Ladder, he’s clinched the top 14 highest sales records among active players featured in the 2025 Topps Series 1—by a landslide. Meanwhile, a Dylan Crews card manages a whisper of limelight, having fetched $1,899 for a rare auto /5 from the 1990 Topps Baseball lineup. But next to Ohtani’s staggering numbers, Crews fades into the background like an off-Broadway production.
Let’s break it down: Ohtani’s top-grossing triumph takes the form of a Heavy Lumber Auto Relic card, which flaunts a game-used bat and charmed its way to a $3,599.99 price tag on February 19. A contender for eternal glory stands poised on eBay, cheekily demanding $4,500—a testament to its potential to eclipse even its own previous success.
In the stratosphere of patches, Ohtani’s celestial In The Name All-Star Patch cards—each one a singular and sacred 1/1—commanded $3,361 and $3,430 in bids during late February. By stark contrast, even the well-regarded Bobby Witt Jr. could only muster four-figure sums, with his highest reaching a mere $1,400. As for Juan Soto, his In The Name card managed a $382.77 sale, which might cover a romantic dinner, but is a shadow beside Ohtani’s financial fireworks.
Transitioning to the nostalgic allure of the 1990 Topps Baseball 35th Anniversary inserts, Ohtani shines yet again, with one of his Auto SSP (Super Short Print) cards going for $2,925. This places him second behind a Barry Bonds Auto /5 at $3,100. Yet, don’t count it out—the sole dazzling Ohtani 1990 Auto /5 currently listed on eBay has dreams as lofty as its asking price of $7,995. For context, Aaron Judge’s best showing here hits $650—a valiant effort, yet wildly distant from Ohtani’s reality.
The Ohtani express shows no signs of stopping, its steam fueled by incredible display and demand. In just six months, his already expansive card market has swelled by 21.63%, according to Card Ladder. Further igniting this blaze is his tenure with the Dodgers; since signing, his card market has surged nearly 40%.
What magic spell has made Ohtani so coveted? Perhaps it’s his awe-inspiring performance where he achieved a jaw-dropping feat—joining the ranks of myth with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a singular, glorious season. As he laces up for his second campaign with the Dodgers, the notion of him taking the mound once more teases collectors like a cliffhanger, hinting that this star has yet to peak.
Shohei Ohtani has not just etched his name in the annals of great baseball skills; he’s stenciled it in neon across the culture of collecting. His name is synonymous with excitement, a beacon that continues to draw collectors from all precincts of the sports card universe. While Ohtani preps to perhaps reintroduce his pitching prowess, the fervor surrounding his cards continues its upward climb, spotlighted by sales data that read less like stats and more like verses of a folk hero’s song.
This season, those clutching an Ohtani in hand don’t just hold a card—they grasp a slice of legend, a testament to expertise and a love letter to the timeless infatuation with greatness. As Ohtani’s star shines ever brighter, it lights the way for both fans and collectors, proving that in this deck, he’s most definitely the ace.