Graded: 2018 Exquisite Collection ’09-10 Rookie Tribute Shohei Ohtani Signed Kanji
In 2018 Upper Deck turned back time to 2009-10 to honor one of baseball’s best – Shohei Ohtani. The release was unique in multiple ways, a shorter print of 99 and featured in two languages. The player and rarity are pushing the value of the card up by the thousands.
2018 Exquisite Collection ’09-10 Rookie Tribute #09TSO Shohei Ohtani Signed variation (featured photo) is in Kanji, another way to express Japanese writing. The tribute was a throwback homage to the ’09-10 Exquisite Collection Basketball that was big for collectors chasing Steph Curry’s UD rookie auto.
Released as 99 in Kanji, some of the cards were signed in Latin. It is not known how many were signed in Kanji or Latin adding to the scarcity of the product.
The English release recently sold for $8,540 in a Goldin Auction graded as a Near-Mint-Mint BGS 8. The centering received a 10 grade, edges 9, corners 7.5, and surface a 9.
The raw values for the English version, per the Beckett Online Price Guide, ranges from $1,500 to $4,000.
The Kanji values are harder to pinpoint. A 2018 UD Goodwin Champions Auto (Kanji) Shohei Ohtani Rookie Gem Mint 10 has a price tag of $250,000 online. A BGS 10 on a 2018 Topps Heritage #600 Shohei Ohtani Rookie Auto (hard sign) is going for $4,800. A 2018 UD Goodwin Champions Goudey Sport Royalty Autos (Kanji) #SPRASO Shohei Ohtani (inserted in 2019) BGS grade 9.5, auto 10, is posted for $59,999.99.
A Fanatics Collect auction for a 2018 Exquisite Collection ’09-10 Rookie Tribute #09TSO Shohei Ohtani Signed in Kanji 7/99 Gem Mint 9.5, 10 auto, received 51 bids selling for $51,600.
It all adds up to value for the beholder of the cards.
The rookie label will change for Ohtani depending on where one lives. For Japanese fans following the 50-50 slugger, Ohtani made his professional debut in the NPB in March of 2013. For MLB fans, the rookie year was in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani is coming off his best MLB year winning his third MVP and first World Series. The do-it-all talent is off to a hot start in 2025 hitting .333 with two dingers in five games.
Have you landed a card you love and/or of value? Protect it and increase your card’s worth by having it graded with Beckett.
