Ohtani came to Major League Baseball with massive hype in December 2017, and a burning question in trading card circles early in 2018 surrounded when his first rookies would appear in packs. One of those early appearances came in 2018 Bowman Baseball, and collectors could not wait to try to uncover examples of his “1st Bowman” Chrome Rookie Autograph card.
Featuring a photo of Ohtani following through on his windup, his hard-signed Rookie Autograph remains one of his most iconic cards. The combination of its early release and connection to the Bowman Chrome brand have been tough to top, especially since Ohtani has continued down a path to baseball immortality.
This is one of just two copies to achieve a Pristine 10 grade from BGS. Subgrades include 10s for Corners, Surface and Edges. Centering is 9.5. The signature has also been given a 10. The end result is one of the very best copies of one of Ohtani's most iconic baseball cards.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 02/16/2026.
