A unique Shohei Ohtani autographed card has set a new benchmark in the world of sports memorabilia by selling for an astounding $3 million at auction. This record-breaking sale took place through Fanatics Collect, marking a significant milestone not only for Ohtani but also for the entire collecting community. The previous record for an Ohtani card was $1.067 million, achieved in March 2024.
The card in question is a one-of-one numbered 2025 Topps Chrome MVP Award Gold MLB Logoman, a product of a collaboration between the Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nike. This partnership allows jerseys of award winners from the previous season to feature gold MLB logos, which are then incorporated into collectible cards.
Historic Sale Stands Out in Collecting Community
This sale nearly tripled the former record for a card featuring a player from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Ohtani card is now the highest-selling card in the history of Fanatics Collect and the most expensive modern baseball card since the $3.96 million sale of a Mike Trout autographed rookie Superfractor in 2020.
According to Kevin Lenane, vice president of marketplace at Fanatics, Ohtani has become a “Babe Ruthian figure” in international baseball, making his collectibles particularly valuable. The card’s patch is noted to have been used during an April 29 game where Ohtani hit his seventh home run of the season against the Miami Marlins.
Lenane emphasized the importance of authenticity in high-end cards: “We try to listen to the collecting community… if you’re going to have patches in these cards that are worth a lot of money, let’s have you be able to say, hey, this came from this game.”
Other Noteworthy Sales in 2024
This year has seen several other significant sales in sports memorabilia. The 2024 Topps Chrome Update Paul Skenes MLB debut patch card sold for $1.11 million in March, while a Caitlin Clark card fetched $660,000 in July. Lenane remarked that these sales contribute to the excitement in the collecting world, stating, “This is another really big moment.”
In the same auction event, a card featuring Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks also made headlines. An autographed, one-of-one numbered 2025 Topps Chrome Silver Pack ’80 Superfractor was sold for $216,000, setting a new record for Flagg’s cards. This sale more than doubled the previous record of $97,600 for a Flagg card from the 2024-25 Bowman Chrome U series.
Lenane highlighted Flagg’s recent achievements, noting, “He just dumped 42 the other day,” referencing Flagg as the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 points in a game. With the recent activation of their basketball license, Lenane expressed enthusiasm about Flagg’s impact on the collecting scene.
The significant sales of these unique cards reflect not only the growing interest in sports memorabilia but also the continued rise of figures like Shohei Ohtani and Cooper Flagg as icons in their respective sports. As the year draws to a close, collectors and enthusiasts are left eagerly anticipating what future auctions might bring.
