Shohei Ohtani, the MLB superstar who recently signed a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has taken the sports trading card industry by storm. In 2023, PSA and ISA, two prominent card-grading companies, revealed the top 10 athletes and cards based on submissions for the year. Ohtani not only tops the list of most submitted athletes but also holds four spots in the top 10 most graded sports cards of the year.
Collectors can’t get enough of Ohtani’s cards, particularly his 2018 Topps #700 Pitching card, which has become highly sought after. With his incredible talent as both a pitcher and a hitter, Ohtani has become a fan favorite both on the field and in the trading card market.
While Ohtani dominates the leaderboard, the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan continues to have a significant presence in card submissions. His 1990 Fleer card remains a sought-after item among collectors, solidifying his status as an iconic figure in sports history.
Here are the top 10 athletes in card submissions for 2023:
1. Shohei Ohtani
2. Michael Jordan
3. Julio Rodriguez
4. Trevor Lawrence
5. Joe Burrow
6. Tom Brady
7. Kobe Bryant
8. LeBron James
9. Ken Griffey Jr.
10. Patrick Mahomes II
In addition to Ohtani, several other notable cards made the top 10 most graded sports cards of 2023 list. These include the 2018 Bowman #49 and the 2018 Topps Update US285 – both belonging to Ohtani. The list also features the 2022 Bowman Chrome Prospects BCP50 Elly De La Cruz and the 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie.
In the realm of football card submissions, it’s clear that Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence are gaining momentum. Fields, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, saw a remarkable 119% increase in submissions compared to the previous year. Lawrence, the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, also experienced a significant 98% increase in card submissions. These rising stars are capturing the attention of both fans and collectors, and their cards are becoming highly sought after.
Another football player who saw a surge in submissions is Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. This increase may be attributed to his public relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift, as fans and collectors are eager to obtain memorabilia from someone linked to such a prominent figure.
Rookie cards continue to dominate the grading submissions across sports. In basketball, Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama are the top choices for rookie card submissions. Football sees Kenny Pickett and Brock Purdy leading the way, while Elly De La Cruz and Adley Rutschman shine in baseball.
As the card-grading industry soars in popularity, these rankings reflect the ongoing fascination with sports trading cards. Fans and collectors alike eagerly anticipate the release of new cards and relentlessly hunt rare finds to add to their collections. With stars like Shohei Ohtani leading the pack and rising talents like Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence making their mark, the trading card market remains as thrilling as ever.
