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

Shohei Ohtani and the number 50 go hand in hand, with the three-time MVP becoming the first player in MLB history to club 50 homers and swipe 50 bases in the same season last year. The number 50 is also relevant when it comes to this beautiful 2018 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor Ohtani Rookie Auto, as it pertains to the parallel’s scant print run. But, of course, 50 isn’t the only number in play here. The PSA 10 grade is also of note, thanks to the fact this is one of only 12 to earn that lofty assessment (four of which also have a DNA grade). Add it all up, and you’ve got a truly special example of one of Ohtani’s best and most important cards. When 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, it’s hard to argue with anything the megastar does at the plate. Topps used a photo from that second game on this card, which has become one of the defining printings of the last decade. That status, combined with this example’s gorgeous PSA 10 condition, ensures the reaction to this Refractor will be sizable this month. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 04/09/2025.