Shohei Ohtani Off-Field Update Emerges After $3 Million News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 9:16 AM ET

Shohei Ohtani had another big year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning his fourth MVP award and his second straight World Series title.

The Japanese superstar finished the MLB season with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs as L.A.'s leadoff hitter, all while posting a .392 on-base percentage and a 1.014 OPS. As a pitcher, he tallied a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings, striking out 62 batters in the process.

As Ohtani cemented his status as an all-time baseball great, his popularity also reached an incredible level. Aside from the increased attention and media coverage, his immense fame was also seen in his sports card market.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts during a game.© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

According to Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), widely considered the top service provider of sports card authentication, assessment and grading, Ohtani nearly swept the U.S. as the athlete with the most-graded cards per state in the baseball category in 2025.

Among all U.S. states, it was only in Kansas and Louisiana that Ohtani did not top. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. dominated Kansas, while former LSU star and now Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was the biggest name in Louisiana.

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The news about Ohtani's sports card dominance in PSA graded cards in 2025 comes on the heels of the record-breaking sale of his 1-of-1 Topps Chrome Gold Logoman Autograph card in late December 2025.

As reported previously, the one-of-a-kind card sold for $3 million, setting the all-time record for the most expensive Ohtani card. It's nearly three times the previous high: a 2024 Topps Dynasty Black Logoman from Ohtani's 50/50 game that sold for $1.067 million.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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