Shohei Ohtani Japanese Rookie Cards Gallery
Now that he has signed with the Los Angeles Angels, MLB Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards in 2018 products are on the way. But the two-way Japanese sensation already has a bunch of cards dating back to 2013. That’s when Japanese Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards came out. It may require a little more work than normal to get them, given their overseas distribution.
And just like sets from Topps, Panini and other American companies who have made baseball cards over the last few decades, the styles of the first Shohei Ohtani cards varies. Some use traditional designs, others are more bold. Memorabilia cards exist, as do some labelled “non-memorabilia cards.”
BBM was the most prominent company to make Shohei Ohtani cards during his first season with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Even as a rookie, BBM made Ohtani a prominent part in almost a dozen of their releases. In addition to several inserts, multiple cards have variations that showcase his talents as both a batter and a pitcher.
BBM doesn’t do nearly the same level of parallel rainbows like a lot of modern Topps and Panini baseball sets. A common theme for the parallels that do exist in 2013 BBM sets is facsimile signatures. Collectors should be careful when looking at signed Japanese Shohei Ohtani cards. While most of the facsimile signatures are easy to spot given their metallic foil print, a lot of images shown online aren’t clear. Some online item descriptions aren’t direct either. Further complicating matters is that BBM has cards that look like autographed cards but are pre-printed.
The BBM Shohei Ohtani card catalog might be the deepest in 2013, but they’re weren’t the only company. Calbee didn’t make any Shohei Ohtani base cards in 2013 but they did make a few different inserts. Ohtani is also in the 2013 Bandai Owners League set.
2017 Bowman Chrome Mega Box – The First American Shohei Ohtani Card
North American collectors have gotten a small taste of Shohei Ohtani cards. Topps snuck him into the Target-exclusive 2017 Bowman Mega Boxes. He was expected to play in the World Baseball Classic, which would have opened him up for a handful of 2017 products. But an injury kept him out of the international tournament.
The 2017 Bowman Chrome Mega Box Shohei Ohtani has proven to be one of the most popular cards of the year. The base version was out of the gate quickly and promptly rose on a combination of speculation and rumors that the Mega Boxes had been recalled or printed in small numbers. While there was a delay in releasing some of the product, the 2017 Bowman Mega Boxes returned to Target shelves a couple months later.
Prices of the Ohtani dropped somewhat with the sudden surge in supply. But now that he’s coming to the majors for 2018, it has picked up steam once again.
Japanese Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards and Inserts Gallery
While this list is extensive, it is not a definitive list (though, we think it’s pretty close). Given the international distribution, getting full lists is tricky. Several cards do have parallels.
2013 Bandai Owners League Shohei Ohtani #074
2013 Bandai Owners League Shohei Ohtani #IC 001
2013 BBM 1st Version Shohei Ohtani #183
2013 BBM 1st Version Diamond Rookies Shohei Ohtani #DR07
2013 BBM 2nd Version Shohei Ohtani #554
2013 BBM 2nd Version Cross Wind Shohei Ohtani #CW058
2013 BBM 2nd Version Twin Gem Shohei Ohtani/Sho Nakata
2013 BBM 2nd Version Card Shop Limited Edition Non Memorabilia Card Shohei Ohtani #CL07
2013 BBM Classic Shohei Ohtani #037
2013 BBM Fighters 10th Season in Hokkaido Shohei Ohtani #02
2013 BBM Fighters 10th Season in Hokkaido Shohei Ohtani #89
2013 BBM Genesis Shohei Ohtani #055
2013 BBM Genesis Weekly Baseball Promotion Printed Autograph Shohei Ohtani #WB2
2013 BBM Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Shohei Ohtani #F02a (Pitching)/F02b (Batting)
2013 BBM Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Shohei Ohtani #F83
2013 BBM Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Shohei Ohtani #F90-F98
2013 BBM Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Keep Evolving Shohei Ohtani #KE1
2013 BBM Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Stadium Event Special Edition Shohei Ohtani #PR12
2013 BBM Icons – Hope Shohei Ohtani #14
2013 BBM Icons – Hope Shohei Ohtani/Yusei Kikuchi #26
2013 BBM Icons – Hope Class of 94 Shohei Ohtani/Shintaro Fujinami #DC06
2013 BBM Photograph Card Shohei Ohtani #P1 /100
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Shohei Ohtani #42 – Batting/Pitching Variations
2013 BBM Rookie Premium Shohei Ohtani/Mitsuo Yoshikawa #90
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Card Shop Limited Edition Shohei Ohtani/Tomoyuki Sugano
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Premium Shohei Ohtani #PR19
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Premium Shohei Ohtani #PR43
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Premium Authentic Visitor Jersey Shohei Ohtani #RM-F
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Premium Film Shohei Ohtani #F19 /25
2013 BBM Rookie Edition Premium Visionary Shohei Ohtani #VC07 /50
2013 BBM Young Fighters Shohei Ohtani #F01
2013 Calbee All-Star Shohei Ohtani #AS-22
2013 Calbee Exciting Rookie Shohei Ohtani #D-07
2013 Calbee StarCard Shohei Ohtani #S61
Comments? Questions? Contact Ryan Cracknell on Twitter @tradercracks or by email.
2013 BBM ICONS – HOPE CLASS OF 94 SHOHEI OHTANI/SHINTARO FUJINAMI #DC06 Is A 1/90 gold #94 they make one with a red 94 1/40 and one more 1/20 haven’t seen one ,,,,,no 1/60s
2013 BBM ICONS – HOPE CLASS OF 94 SHOHEI OHTANI/SHINTARO FUJINAMI #DC06…….These cards are his “Only” die cut rookie cards
I am told that the 2013 BBM 1ST VERSION SHOHEI OHTANI #183 is the one with a 3rd text logo underneath the two showing on the item you have posted with the text saying 1st version. Can you confirm or refute? If I am correct, as other collectors in the know told me, then you have the wrong picture. The card is identical, except for a 3rd item below the two on the top left front.
hello Cory, are you talking about the insert scm logo on the #183 has different colors on bottom , red, pink ,green
also silver signature on #183
I know most about the 2013 BBM Rookie Edition Premium Baseball Card Set
Regular Card
Golden Crop
Then the rarest of the rare are.
Memorabilia Card Away
Memorabilia Card Home
/75 Photo Card
/50 Visionary
/25 Film
I do think but cannot confirm if there is a live autograph on Rookie Edition Premium but i am absolutely sure that the /25 film is the king of ohtani cards in this set.