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. This BGS 9.5 Gold parallel stamped 29/50 adds an extra layer of rarity to an already coveted issue. It’s a hue that’s certain to color the opinion of baseball bidders this month.
No example has been graded higher by BGS.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 03/03/2025.
