Shohei Ohtani made his MLB debut on March 29th, 2018.
From the moment his move from Japan to the MLB was announced in 2017, he become one of the most hyped players in the hobby. His rookie cards skyrocketed early in his rookie year, however a series of injuries from 2018-20 caused his cards to drop and provided collectors an opportunity to pick up his cards at very reasonable prices.
From 2021 - 2023, Ohtani’s on field results showed what his two way potential really was and he began excelling at both pitching and hitting. Collectors took notice once again. His cards significantly appreciated in 2023, but there are still a ton of cool cards available for affordable prices.
Here are my favorite 5 Shohei Ohtani cards you can buy for less than $20!
The Cards
2018 Topps Opening Day #200
Pop Quiz: What was the first pack issued Shohei Ohtani Card?
Answer: 2018 Topps Opening Day Shohei Ohtani #200 (eBay link)
Ohtani rookie cards were available for the first time in 2018 Topps Opening Day packs. I appreciate that Topps used what was probably their most “entry level” product to let collectors get their hands on the much hyped prospect. For about $1 a pack, these cards were getting scooped up with hopes to land card #200. The card pictures Ohtani wearing an Angels jersey at a press conference. It’s not the most engaging photo, but the significance of it being his first Topps card makes it worthy of being on the list.
This one bumps right up to the $20 limit with recent sales ranging from about $18-$25.
2019 Topps Finest Blue Chips FBC-SO
Next up is the 2019 Topps Finest Blue Chips insert card. There are two things I love about this card. First, it shows Ohtani’s dual threat capability in action. It looks to me like he’s admiring a towering HR ball which just came off his bat.
Second, I’m a retro mark, so the fact that they use the 1997 Finest design gets this card a whole bunch of bonus points!
This is one of the cheapest cards on my list and you can buy it for about $4-$5 on eBay.
2018 Topps Update US1
Another Rookie Card is back in the mix for my third option. The 2018 Topps Update Shohei Ohtani #US1(eBay link) is another great affordable option for an Ohtani rookie.
His primary flagship rookie was found in Series 2, but Topps included several other rookie cards in the Update Set. This action shot shows him mid-pitch and I love the intensity you can see on his face. The color, the logo, the blurred stadium in the background all combine to make this one of my favorites.
This is another one that pushes right up against the $20 mark with recent sales in the $20-$25 range. I think if you are patient (and use best offers) you can still get this one for under $20 on eBay, COMC, or at a local show.
2019 Bowman’s Best Refractor #33
He’s a pitcher. No, he’s a hitter, a pitcher, a hitter. Yes, the fact that Ohtani plays at such a high level as both a pitcher and a hitter is amazing. So my list of the 5 best Shohei Ohtani cards has to include images of him doing both things! The 2019 Bowman’s Best Shohei Ohtani Refractor #33 (eBay link) contains another image of him hitting.
It’s a chromium card, it’s shiny, and you can typically pick it up for about $10-$15. If you’d prefer the standard version without the refractor treatment, you can get it for about $3 on eBay.
2019 Topps 1984 Design Insert #84-25
Finally, I’ll wrap things up with another rookie card. Or is it? No, it’s actually not. Despite Topps including the RC logo in the upper left corner this 2019 Topps 1984 Design insert(eBay link) is not an Ohtani Rookie. It was a production error that the Topps quality team overlooked. This card catches some people up off guard when they see it in person and think it’s a rookie. They don’t actually realize this card came out in Ohtani’s second year in the majors.
The unique nature of the error is one cool thing about it, but I also love the design. The 1984 set is one of my favorites from the 80s and I love the way Ohtani looks with this design. The dual photos and vertical team name on the front combined with the back which shows both is Japanese and MLB stats makes this one of my favorite Ohtani cards.
This one has sales just above and just below my $20 limit.
Wrapping It Up
Ohtani has some super expensive cards, but as you can see he still has some great ones which are very affordable. Clearly, my list of five isn’t exhaustive. He has a ton of great cards out there for you to collect.
What are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments below!
Also, if you haven’t heard, I have a Podcast called the WaxPackHero Sports Card Minute! It’s available here directly on the site at the Podcast link at the top of the page, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and pretty much anywhere podcasts are found. Check it out, let me know what you think, and tell your friends!