Graded: 2024 Bowman Chrome Variation Autographs Superfractors Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Card Pictured: 2024 Bowman Chrome Image Variation Autographs Superfractors #CRAYY Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The storyline has become reoccurring but the product on the field is anything but commonplace. In 2023, another Nippon Professional Baseball legend was made available to Major League Baseball making his U.S. rookie debut in March of 2024. Fans of the game and sports card collectors are now tracking the progress of Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
A pitching ace for the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto was a magician on the mound in the NPB. Yamamoto broke into Japan’s big leagues as a 19-year-old in 2017 dominating the competition from 2021 to 2023 earning three Pacific League MVPs, three pitching Triple Crowns (wins, strikeouts, and ERA), and three Eiji Sawamura Awards.
In the stature of a Greg Maddux, Yamamoto has four pitches at his command with his fastball coming to the plate between 95-99 miles per hour and a splitter that breaks down batters.
Once available to make the move to the U.S., the Dodgers quickly signed the right-hander to a 12-year $325 million deal.
Yamamoto had a solid rookie MLB season going 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA striking out 105 in 90 innings pitched; a season limited due to a rotator cuff injury. Yamamoto was counted on and delivered in the postseason with two starts against the Padres, a start against the Mets in the NLCS, and the Game 2 start against the Yankees in the World Series.
Winning the Japan Series championship in 2022 with the Buffaloes, Yamamoto added his second major championship with Los Angeles in 2024.
Capturing the Yamamoto craze, Bowman released different versions of Yamamoto rookie cards featuring his autograph. A 2024 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autograph #CRA-YY raw is valued over $340 with a Mint 9 bringing in $500 and a 10 Pristine valued over $600.
Bowman upped the ante on the 2024 Bowman Chrome Image Variation Autographs Superfractors #CRAYY Yoshinobu Yamamoto making it a true short print, a 1-of-1. The value for this card has not been set on the open market.
Yamamoto is giving collectors reasons to continue chasing his cards, he has started 2025 off with a 3-1 record posting an 0.93 ERA striking out 38 in 29 innings.
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