Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani inks global trading card deal with Topps

Los Angeles Dodgers star and two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani has signed an unique long-term international buying and selling card cope with Topps, a division of Fanatics Collectibles, it was introduced Thursday.

Ohtani has signed different offers with Fanatics — together with an unique autograph, collectibles and memorabilia deal in 2021, however it did not embody sports activities playing cards.

“Ohtani’s been part of the Topps household since he signed with the Angels in late 2017, early 2018, so this deal is tremendous essential to us,” mentioned David Leiner, president of buying and selling playing cards at Fanatics Collectibles. “Finest participant within the sport, distinctive, international participant, who pitches and hits. You have to have this man in product, you have to have his autographs and memorabilia for followers to chase.”

The settlement contains autographs and game-used memorabilia playing cards and can characteristic playing cards centered round moments and achievements, involving U.S.- and Japan-based merchandise, a bourgeoning area for Topps and gathering.

“I am completely satisfied to be completely partnering with Topps to provide followers distinctive playing cards and collectibles for seasons to return,” Ohtani mentioned in a press release.

Ohtani joins fellow Japanese gamers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui with Topps offers.

“Japanese allocation is an enormous piece and also you higher consider, for the accounts in Japan, there’s by no means sufficient [product],” Leiner says. “They’re at all times asking for extra. Our largest Japanese accomplice, Mint Collectibles, they personal and function a series of 28 shops throughout Japan and the interest is vibrant over there.”

In early January 2018, Fanatics opened an workplace in Tokyo and launched Fanatics Japan, almost 4 years to the day earlier than buying Topps. Topps adopted swimsuit, opening an workplace in Tokyo in 2021.

“We’re pushing, we’re well-distributed,” Leiner says. “7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson’s, the interest is in its early levels there, however we will proceed to push and develop there. Japan is a superb baseball nation, a passionate group of parents over there, and [Shohei] is so essential again residence.”

Leiner notes that 2025 Opening Day is the Dodgers vs. the Chicago Cubs in mid-March on the Tokyo Dome: “Search for some enjoyable stuff there that includes our newly unique man.”

Whereas monetary particulars weren’t disclosed, Leiner mentioned the deal is much like the one Fanatics inked with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James in January and “longer than lots of the different offers you see us doing.”

“We need to change the best way our athlete partnership group works,” Leiner says. “Traditionally, buying and selling card firms would stick a thousand playing cards in entrance of an athlete in a resort room on the street or one thing, scribbling away. It is no secret, these guys make some huge cash, [but] we wish true partnerships, 360 offers; they’re gonna signal their playing cards, that is a part of the gig, however there’s bells and whistles — advertising and partnering on the class, social media — and we’re making an attempt to, like with LeBron, carry Shohei into the household and have a real partnership.”

Whereas the deal does not embody contractual appearances, given the extent and stature of the deal Leiner says, Topps and Fanatics count on Ohtani to take part in packages and elevate the collectible class on social media authentically.

Leiner additionally notes that Ohtani is a collector himself.

“When he indicators playing cards” — which Leiner notes Topps continues to have flexibility on, Ohtani signing inscriptions in English or Kanji — “he asks a whole lot of questions, seems to be at them, understands them and likes them. He has a few of his personal playing cards as properly, we have made playing cards for him, too; final yr, we known as it A Transcendent Season, put it in a very nice field, he [put] it on social media.

“He enjoys seeing children at stadiums, followers along with his playing cards, making an attempt to get them signed on the stadium. He has a whole lot of respect for the class, going again to when he was a rising famous person within the Nippon Skilled Baseball league.”

Ohtani presently leads the NL in residence runs, slugging, OPS and he is second in RBIs and stolen bases. In line with ESPN BET, he is a -1600 favourite to win NL MVP, which might be his third MVP award in seven MLB seasons. Solely 11 gamers in MLB historical past have gained three.

“[Shohei] is a man that has an opportunity to increase the game of baseball on a worldwide foundation and one thing I have been captivated with — and we’re captivated with at Fanatics — is international enlargement,” Leiner says. “This man’s doing issues we’ve not seen since Babe Ruth and hopefully [Shohei continues to convert] extra followers into collectors.”