2018 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor Shohei Ohtani ROOKIE AUTO DNA 10 /50 PSA 10

When Shohei Ohtani made his first Spring Training start after joining the Los Angeles Angels, he struggled with his command and allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Padres. According to certain reporters, the outing was “somewhat underwhelming” or “decidedly ordinary” in an overreaction to the Japanese star’s first appearance in Major League Baseball. The next day, again against the Padres, he made his debut as a designated hitter, drawing a pair of walks and hitting a first-pitch RBI single, leaving little ammunition for the critics. “One of the reasons why I was able to see so many pitches in the first two at-bats was I just wanted to feel the difference in the strike zones between Japan and the States,” Ohtani said. “I felt like I kind of accomplished that, plus I just wanted to be aggressive on the first pitch.” Three MVPs and a World Series title later, and it’s hard to argue with anything the megastar does at the plate. Topps used a photo from that second game on Ohtani’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autograph card, which has become one of the defining printings of the last decade. And this stands as one of the defining examples of this outstanding Ohtani rookie auto. This stunning Gold /50 parallel stamped 42/50 presents flawlessly, living up to its PSA 10 / DNA 10 designation. One of only four examples to earn that grade, it's a phenomenal specimen with a print run inextricably linked to Shotime after his unparalleled 50/50 campaign last season. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 03/06/2025.