One-of-a-Kind 'Ohtani Card' Sells for 15.8 Billion Won, Ranks 3rd All-Time

Ohtani Baseball Card Surges in Value in the Collectibles Market
Five Transactions Over 1 Million Dollars Since December Last Year

The baseball card of Shohei Ohtani, a superstar in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was sold for 11 million dollars (approximately 15.8 billion won), making it the third highest-priced sports card transaction in history.

According to foreign media outlets such as ESPN and USA Today on July 31 (Korea Standard Time), the card features Ohtani's autograph in both English and Chinese characters, as well as two MLB gold patches that were actually attached to his game-worn uniforms.

Ohtani baseball card and gold patch sold for 15.8 billion won. Topps SNS

Previously, Ohtani won the National League MVP award for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. In MLB, there is a tradition where players who have won the MVP, Cy Young, or Rookie of the Year awards wear specially designed gold patches on their uniforms the following season. Notably, the two gold patches included in the card were attached to the uniforms Ohtani wore during the game against the Baltimore Orioles in September 2025 and the game against the Texas Rangers in April 2026, respectively. Ohtani hit a home run in both games.

It is reported that a card collector in Florida obtained a redemption slip for the card at a card shop and then contacted sports card collector Matthew Allen directly to negotiate the sale. The specific size of the transaction became known after Allen stated on his social media account that he purchased the card for more than 10 million dollars. With prices for Ohtani’s baseball cards rising sharply in recent months, it is reported that five cards have been traded for more than 1 million dollars (about 1.4 billion won) since December of last year.

In the United States, it is not uncommon for highly rare and collectible sports cards to sell for tremendous sums. Last year, a card bearing the signatures of NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant was sold for 12.93 million dollars (about 18.5 billion won), setting the record for the highest price ever for a sports card. After that, a 1952 MLB New York Yankees Mickey Mantle card, which received a 9.5 out of 10 grade from SGC, the leading sports card grading company in the U.S., was sold for 12.6 million dollars (approximately 18 billion won), ranking second in history.

Meanwhile, Ohtani, who has currently stopped pitching due to pain in his left knee, unusually requested a break from the team and did not appear as the starting designated hitter in the game against the Seattle Mariners on July 31.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.