Where do you start collecting Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards?

You should know by now that Shohei Ohtani is having another historic year with dominating performances on both the mound and at the plate ... it's stuff that could only be called Ruthian -- and yet Babe Ruth didn't do it all at the same time.

Right now, on June 28, he leads the league in homers (28), RBI (64), slugging percentage (.654), total bases (200) and other offensive stats, while also having. 7-3 record on the mound with 127 Ks in 95 innings and a 3.02 ERA ... in short, he leads his team in pretty much everything. This kind of showing could mean serious headlines by year's end, too, with that home run pace alone.

The Japanese icon and pitcher-slash-DH's 2018 Rookie Cards are ones you should be thinking about right now as there's been a serious uptick in interest -- and it was already high. But, thanks to there being plenty of sets that year and with him in most of them, there's still a lot to choose from that's not priced out of many collectors' budgets. Things do get quite interesting with basic cards in slabs, too. (Prices should surprise you ... they did for me just prepping this.)

Ohtani, who had a ton of cards during his career in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan starting in 2013, appears on literally thousands of unique baseball cards -- he'll probably hit around 15,000 by year's end or this time next year. More than 3,000 of those are from 2018 alone. His time in MLB releases started almost immediately as he never needed MiLB time and arrived in almost everything in the 2018 lineups from Topps, Panini America and elsewhere -- Rookie Cards, parallels, autographs, memorabilia you name it he's had it all since then. And there will be plenty more to come, perhaps making those earlier cards feel more unique to some ... especially if they missed out.

For simplicity's sake here, we have carved out all of his Topps Now and several other small-set cards sold as online releases as well as Panini America's meaty lineup of Ohtani (about 30 basic RCs and tons more when it comes to hits and inserts). We've also punted all autographs and Relic cards to make this a starting point with the widest affordability and accessibility possible, though there are plenty of high-dollar cards in this roundup.

Keep reading for a rundown of Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards ... and it won't even be all of his stuff you could dabble with from that key year as there are plenty of cards with RC logos that don't fall under the definition.

SOME STARTERS ...

This is the group of Ohtani cards from brands that are historically popular -- or are from rarer sets paralleling them as standalone releases. There's a wide array of low-end to high-end here price-wise with some easy to land and others a challenge -- and there are plenty of variations and parallels within the releases, too.

2018 Topps Series 2 #700
This basic card is one that is the flagship release's starting point for cards in packs. It's also the starting point for other versions of cards found in factory sets ... and there are a few versions of those, too. (It's easy to see where those 3,000-plus 2018 cards start piling up -- this card alone has upwards of 40 versions.)

--

2018 Topps Update #US1
Between all of the versions here and for its Chromed counterpart (more on that later) and then all of the secondary cards and inserts in this release -- a release where he's on the box -- it's a super-saturated fun one to rip. Why? There are easily more than 150 different Ohtani cards as potential finds. This one is the starting point -- and the release is arguably where his best stuff can be found excluding all of the stuff that started out in super-pricey releases.

--

2018 Topps Holiday #HMW17
This retail standalone set is absolutely loaded with Ohtani and others having base, parallels and super-rare autos to be found. The base set is small and saturated with newcomers such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Walker Buehler, Rafael Devers, Ozzie Albies, Jack Flaherty and others ... and that smaller size also helps key names fall roughly every other box as well from my ripping experience. This set is a little busier visually but it's one that can deliver a lot on the cheap.

--

2018 Topps Mini #700
This image here is smaller on purpose ... the cards are. Topps used its On Demand platform to release a mini version of 1,000 cards in Series 1, Series 2 and Topps Update all in one place. You only got 30 base cards in a pack so you can do the math -- perfect collation means this card in every 34th box. There also were parallels in this release (Orange /25, Blue /10, Red /5 and 1/1 Gold). I used to chase minis hard, but this is one where I slept on grabbing packs back then and they've gotten beyond pricey. (Demand for That Acuña Guy helped since 2018.)

--

2018 Topps 3D #62
This might be among the rarest of the cards on this entire list as these packs included just five base cards from a 100-card set along with three inserts. The good news is that Ohtani is among the inserts, too, to help your one-in-20 shot at something for him. There are no parallels or other extra stuff here -- just three-dimensional plastic takes and that includes the Acuña "bat down" card that's a classic. This one is that and more -- and another card I wish I would have chased when it first arrived.

--

2018 Topps Heritage High Number #600
About the only Topps releases that missed getting Ohtani into packs in 2018 were Series 1 flagship and then Heritage, which did manage to get an SP auto into the first series. High Series made up for that with ink, a full array of variations and, well, fun ... though a lot of them are not easy finds at all within this 1969 Topps homage. For retro-minded collectors this is easily one of the other go-to cards for Ohtani RCs, especially when it comes to grading, so it had to make this group. (A 10 is not the easiest thing to land, either.) This isn't the flashiest card at all -- at all -- but it's one that's pretty available right now in both singles and wax form. That's also something that may not last over the long-term on the wax side as Heritage is always a go-to for some collectors over everything else. This release has more than 60 cards for him between variations, parallels, other inserts and autographs/Relics. There's a 100th Anniversary (/25) parallel of this one that's of note as well as Chromes and then you get all of the variations Heritage is known for -- get the basics and checklist here. It's a small set, too, so landing him on a base card should happen more than it doesn't in the various box formats. (Atop these there are 5-by-7 sets and wall art versions, too, if you just can't get enough H.)

--

2018 Bowman #49
This one was the go-to release for Ohtani once he was live on the field and this one was live with him in packs -- a version of the "Strasmas" effect that veteran collectors celebrated with the arrival of Stephen Strasburg on the field in 2010. (He was in packs and ready just like this ... but that was his first MLB prospect card, not a RC.) This one was not the home of his Chrome RC but it was the home of his Chrome autos and his first Superfractor auto that sold for big, big money long ago ... but would be so much more massive now if it were made available on the auction block.

--

2018 Topps Stadium Club #138
Between all of the inserts and hits here, Ohtani has more than 70 cards in Stadium Club ... this one is the RC of the bunch showing him at his introductory news conference -- a scene to come again here soon on this list. There are a lot of fun but pricey finds in this one.

--

2018 Topps Opening Day #200
This low-end release was the first to include Ohtani among the basics with just a base card, printing plates, Blue (/2018), Black (1/1) and a retail-only Purple parallel being the only finds beyond some oversized sold-online cards and wall art that were not in packs. It's not a short-print, either.

--

2018 Topps Gypsy Queen #89
Without a bunch of Heritage cards until later in the year, this one helped fill the void for vintage-style collectors with a modest array of parallels and then some autographs to chase. Color changes, different backs, logo tweaks and more are all in play here for Ohtani.

--

ME & MY CHROMIES ...

Their shiny plastic stock is the starting point for Refractor rainbows that can generate some of the hottest flames in the hobby ... and Ohtani's RCs have a pretty good presence just like other newcomers in 2018 releases.

2018 Topps Chrome #150 
Ohtani has more than 70 options in this one, but there's only one Rookie Card for Topps Chrome. There are 22 versions of this card in particular with other Refractors including standard, Prism, Blue (/150), Blue Wave (/75), Gold (/50), Gold Wave (/50) Green (/99), Green Wave (/99), Negative, Orange (/25), Pink, Purple (/299), Red (/5), Red Wave (/5), Sepia, X-fractors and the 1/1 Superfractor as well as printing plates. He's got plenty more to find here and also a Chrome card as a bonus in some Topps flagship factory sets.

--

2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire #700
Of the Chromes, this one is the biggie for high-rollers with this being from a 700-card set packed out in just 100-card boxes (packs) with three parallels and three autographs atop those as a bonus. This product wasn't on the cheap side, either, with a starting price of $199.99 a box when it first arrived and these boxes got shredded hard with all of the good stuff inside -- so they're not easy finds now. This basic card uses the same typical photo -- others are cooler from throughout the year of flagship/Chrome but this is the Sapphire icon. There are also Red (/10) and 1/1 Superfractor versions of this to look for, too. Atop that, there are five different autograph cards for him as well as other star rookies such as Acuña.

--

2018 Topps Chrome Update #HMT1
From the deluxe chase to the retail-only chase ... that's what we have here in a Target-only card found in Mega Boxes and one pack format only initially at those stores. He also has a Rookie Debut card in this 100-card set and then some inserts and autographs that are low-volume cards. The basic Refractor lineup for this one include Gold (/50), Pink, Red (/25), Refractors (/250), X-Fractots (/99) and the 1/1 Superfractor. It's simpler than the basic Topps Chrome lineup and other stars have all that possibility still in boxes, too.

--

2018 Bowman's Best #1
Most people think of Bowman's Best as a prospecting brand more than one for Rookie Cards, but you get the best of both worlds here. There are nine parallels atop this basic card -- Atomic, Blue (/150), Gold (/50), Green (/99), Orange (/25), Purple (/250), Red (/10), standard Refractor and 1/1 Superfractor. He's also got on-card autographs to chase here as well as inserts and all of their parallels, rounding out Best's list to more than 40 cards.

--

2018 Bowman Chrome #1
This one has eight parallels -- Blue (/199), Gold (/50), Green (/99), Orange (/25), Purple (/250), Red (/5), standard Refractors (/499) and a 1/1 Superfractor -- and then there are inserts with parallels and autographs to chase in those Chrome boxes, too. He's got about 30 cards to chase in this release.

--

2018 Topps Finest #100
Another of the earlier arrivals with Photoshopped images to get him into his MLB uni, Finest is still the home to a couple dozen cards as well as ink. It's perhaps not as flashy as others ... yet it still is just that.

--

2018 Topps High Tek #HTSO & 2018 Bowman High Tek #SO 
OK, technically this duo is not Chrome branded ... but they're printed on plastic so they're going to live here this time. Between these two releases there are more than 80 different patterns and, well, I couldn't tell you which one is the standard version or the RC of them ... this one just makes the list as a nod that they exist and they are actually pretty nice as long as the patterns agree with you. There also are autographs to be found in these releases, too.

--

THE ELITE

This one stands alone in its type of product as well as its status as one of only a few basic Ohtani RCs that are serial-numbered. What is it? Keep reading ...

2018 Topps Transcendent Collection #10 (/83)
This is a base card from Topps' most-expensive release every year and that's one where the base set is definitely not the focus but still a big deal for RCs. Just 83 boxes of Transcendent were made and each included a mix of autographs and other super-premium cards. Landing one of these RCs won't be easy and his autographs (all /25 or less) won't be, either ... at least from this release. He also was the sole focus of a Japanese edition where every card was Ohtani ...

--

EVEN MORE FOUND IN PACKS

There are some bargains to be had among the basic Ohtani RCs here, but also some huge potential finds among the other possible cards to be found in these boxes. You know, autographs and parallels ...

2018 Topps Allen & Ginter #100
Like Heritage, this is a go-to brand styled after 1880s tobacco cards is an almost-flagship release for retro-minded collectors. The photo here is not all that notable -- but it's often not the basic Ginter card that gets the love from collectors. It's the minis and the autographs that are a big deal in these boxes. Ohtani ink has three types in Ginter -- framed mini, black-frame mini (/25) and framed mini red-ink (/10). The 13 mini versions of this one include a few rarer sets -- 1/1 printing plates, Brooklyn (/25) and no-number (announced /50) -- that are popular with set collectors each year. Ohtani has a ton of cards in this one compared to the next one.

--

2018 Topps Allen & Ginter X #100
The reversed-style version of Ginter arrived with its 10th anniversary (hence the X) a few years ago, but it's also continued since then with the release having its own inclusions. The base card, its minis and a rare autograph (/25) are all that's found here. This was a red-hot online-only release last year and its autograph-per-box format means it likely had a far more limited run than many other products -- including basic Ginter. That should translate into better sales for basic cards like this one. The only drawback? Soft traditional cardboard stock and those dark edges.

--

2018 Topps Archives #50
All those rookies from The Sandlot got a lot of the buzz when this one finally arrived last year, but Ohtani is among the potential finds a few ways. This is his RC that uses the 1959 Topps design and it's got a photo variation, Blue (/99), Gold foil (1/1), Purple (/175) and Silver (/75) parallels. He's also got a 1981-style rookies insert, a 1993-style Coming Attractions insert and autographs to find here. This is the basic RC.

--

2018 Topps Archives Snapshots #ASSO
These boxes also were not widely distributed since they were a release that started out at Topps.com, but Ohtani has a pretty good spot here with this basic card, its four parallels and a rainbow of five autographs. The base card's parallels include Black & White, Blue (/50), Gold (/10) and 1/1 Black. The same lineup applies for ink but with a different volume. This one might also be on the rarer side for basic RCs here

--

2018 Topps Big League #141
This one is more of a kids brand based on its price, but with plenty of touches where it shouldn't be defined as solely that -- it's a collector's brand. Ohtani has seven cards for this one with this basic RC having Black & White, Blue, Gold, Rainbow foil (/100) and 1/1 Red foil parallels. He's also got four Rookie Republic autos with a similar parallel lineup and that's it beyond a blaster box card and some online jumbos. The stock here is no-frills so you might consider grading some of those parallels if you land them and they look very clean -- they may not age well without glossed surfaces, with all that color and with skinny stock used.

--

2018 Topps Fire #150
This release also was only initially found at Target stores and it's got a design that may not mesh with a lot of collectors yet it could jive with a different group of collectors. The good news is that demand for Ohtani just might bring those groups together ripping into these boxes. This one is on the lower side of the demand scale, but they're still pricey at times. it's a release that includes more than 20 different cards inside its packs, including 10 autographs with five of them all rarer than 75 copies. This basic RC has nine parallel versions to chase, too, ranging from 299 copies down to one.

--

2018 Topps Gallery #116
This release was only found at Walmart stores and it's got a pretty well-developed design around the artwork in the basic set, including some unique typography which is accented with smart foil use and some nice spot-gloss touches. The artwork may or may not work for some collectors -- that's pretty much the nature of art-based releases -- but this is one set that I think does more often than not. Ohtani has 30 different cards in this release with the base card having parallels, a 1952 Topps-style insert and autographs among the options.

--

2018 Topps Gold Label (Class 1) #17
This is a brand that might be built for the chase of one-per-box framed autograph cards, but it's also one that can deliver Ohtani relatively often as it's got a basic lineup with three tiers of cards for each of the players involved. Class 1 is the easiest card so it gets the RC nod but there are two others -- and then all of them have parallels (Black, Blue, Gold, Red). His autographed card also has those parallels. It's simple and they don't look that different from each other, but there's enough to have a bit of a chase here in these boxes whether you just one basic RCs, RCs and parallels or everything.

--

2018 Topps Museum Collection #100
The array of inclusions for Ohtani in this high-end release is a bit small ... but it's still potent. This one RC is in there with parallels as well as some inserts and autos, too. You get one hit in every pack of this four-pack box and they're not cheap with all of the demand for the players -- past and present -- that can be found inside.

--

2018 Bowman Platinum #34
This retail-only release is one that also has a couple dozen Ohtani cards to chase with nods to his hitting/pitching split as a basis for variations -- a move seen in many sets this year and since. It's mostly parallels in this one but even he has autographs found here in lower volumes.

--

AND REMEMBER ... THERE'S PLENTY MORE

These aren't even all of them for Ohtani Rookie Cards -- we've punted autograph-only RCs like 2018 Topps Clearly Authentic, Topps Dynasty, Diamond Icons and Five Star as well as the number of online-released single and small-set cards like Topps Now and the Topps Living Set. And, over on the Panini side, Chronicles is one loaded with potential finds along with Diamond Kings along with others from 2018.

Now's the time to be watching Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards -- perhaps more closely than ever.

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com.