Shohei Ohtani 2018 Bowman Chrome Atomic Refractor CRASO 100/100 Rookie

Why investing in Baseball Cards from Topps?
The Evolution of Baseball Cards
Baseball was once known as America's pastime. Today, the two most expensive sports cards are both high-grade baseball cards, highlighting the enduring popularity of baseball cards, even as they were often referred to by this name in general contexts.

Topps and Its Legacy
Topps, founded in 1938 and acquiring rival Bowman in 1956, was purchased by Fanatics in 2022, retaining its name and team. The highest publicly sold sports card is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in high grade.

Topps' Exclusive MLB License
Since 2009, Topps has held the exclusive license for MLB baseball cards. It is one of the three major licensed card manufacturers for modern cards. Panini holds exclusive rights for NBA and NFL cards, while Upper Deck covers NHL cards.

Refractor Cards and Their Appeal
Topps is renowned for its refractor cards, introduced in 1996-97, and refractor autograph cards. These cards feature a chrome texture with enhanced visual appeal through various parallel colors. The first refractor autos came from Bowman’s Best Atomic Refractor Auto in 1997.

Importance of Bowman Chrome Cards
The top modern MLB baseball card is often the first appearance in Bowman Chrome with an autograph, usually released 2-3 years before a player’s professional debut. This allows collectors to invest in players before they gain major attention. Shohei Ohtani is unique as he entered MLB directly from Japan without the minor leagues, making this Bowman Chrome Auto card both a rookie card and a Bowman first appearance card.

Why invest in this Hohei Ohtani card?
Shohei Ohtani's Impact
Shohei Ohtani is considered the face of baseball, often compared to and surpassing Babe Ruth due to his exceptional pitching and hitting. He has broken 28 records held since Babe Ruth’s time and recently signed the biggest sports contract ever, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shohei is the first player in MLB to win two unanimous MVP awards.

Attributes of the Current Card
Best Card of Ohtani: The 2018 Bowman Chrome Auto with the pitching pose is Ohtani's best card. It was the first Bowman Chrome card with an autograph and comes in various rare parallels. Our card is one of only 430 copies, adding up print runs of all the different parallels.

Historical Significance: This card is a Bowman atomic refractor auto, and it matches the brand and parallel style of the first refractor auto ever made, adding historical value.

Special Serial Numbers: The card is one of only three with special serial numbers (1/100, 17/100, 100/100), with 100/100 symbolizing perfection and also referencing Ohtani’s career milestone of 200 home runs.

Uniqueness: Among Ohtani’s 2018 rookie auto cards, this card is unique as it is the only /100 version, symbolizing exclusivity and high value.

Comparison with Other Parallels: This current pitching version is more superior than the later released batting variation, and moreover, this atomic parallel does not appear in that latter variation, thus more exclusive.

Future Market Trends: Topps cards will likely become more sought after as Fanatics also takes over the licensing of NBA and NFL in 2026 to have all big three sports, making early key Topps refractor auto cards more valuable.

Desirability of Autographs: Ohtani’s early, full autographs are highly desirable as his signature style has changed into simplified form and is unlikely to revert back.

Universal Appeal: Ohtani’s dual talent and global appeal make his cards highly desirable. His performance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, watched by a significant portion of the Japanese population, illustrates his broad fan base.