A lot of baseball fans have been waiting for the second coming of Babe Ruth in this day and age. Over the years, a couple of guys tried but ended up short of reaching the legendary status set by the Great Bambino. While others have come and gone, Shotei Ohtani is making a strong case to become the sport’s next superstar that can rival Ruth’s fame. We take a look below at his breakout season this year and how it made a good impact on Shohei Ohtani rookie cards in the card market.
The Reason Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards Are Rising
It has been a trying time for baseball fans. With the pandemic still affecting live games and various issues hounding the sport, there’s certainly a big need for someone to step up. In this regard, we’ve got Ohtani to thank.
The Los Angeles Angels star pitcher is a breath of fresh air in the MLB by becoming what LeBron James is to the NBA – an all-around athlete with tons of talent to boast for on the field. In his fourth year in the league, Ohtani is showing everyone he can pitch, hit, and make runs, among others. And he does these things with an unbridled sense of passion when he’s playing.
Now that Shohei Ohtani is officially in the ASG we're just going to leave this here. pic.twitter.com/2Y2rHLUwFG
— Flippin' Bats Podcast (@FlippinBatsPod) July 2, 2021
But it isn’t just what people see when he’s on the field. Ohtani has the numbers to back up his breakout performance this year. Ohtani hits harder than Juan Soto with an exit velocity of 92.5 miles per hour, throws harder than Yu Darvish (95.4 miles per hour, and is quicker than Randy Arozarena with a sprint speed of 28.9. He’s also the only player to hit 30 home runs while making 10 starts on the mound in just 81 games, a feat Ruth never accomplished in his famed career.
Those accomplishments are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ohtani this season. With him hitting his prime soon, it will be a matter of time before the Los Angeles Angels return to the world series, an accomplishment they last made in 2002.
The State of Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards In The Market
Ohtani’s 2018 Topps Chrome, his definitive rookie card in the market, has benefitted from the baseball star’s improving performance. Last May, a PSA 10 slab of this card was valued at $175 on eBay. It peaked a couple of days ago at $755 and has now settled at $355
Just like his base rookie cards, Ohtani’s high-end offerings in the market have also spiked up. Just recently, a BGS 9.5 2018 Topps Chrome Rookie Red Auto Red /5 fetched $20,300. Another auction of a PSA 10 2018 Bowman Chrome Gold Auto /50 garnered $26,917. These sales prove that both Ohtani’s base rookie card value and his rare items in the market are becoming more in demand than ever, thanks to his breakout season this year.
With more and more people chasing Shohei Ohtani cards, the chances of his stock going higher are becoming more of a reality. Rather than get left in the dust, hunting his rookie cards now is a better option before they skyrocket down the line.
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