Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani inks global trading card deal with Topps - ESPN

Los Angeles Dodgers star and two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani has signed an exclusive long-term global trading card deal with Topps, a division of Fanatics Collectibles, it was announced Thursday.

Ohtani has signed other deals with Fanatics — including an exclusive autograph, collectibles and memorabilia deal in 2021, but it didn't include sports cards.

«Ohtani's been a part of the Topps family since he signed with the Angels in late 2017, early 2018, so this deal is super important to us,» said David Leiner, president of trading cards at Fanatics Collectibles. «Best player in the game, unique, global player, who pitches and hits. You've got to have this guy in product, you've got to have his autographs and memorabilia for fans to chase.»

The agreement includes autographs and game-used memorabilia cards and will feature cards centered around moments and achievements, involving U.S.- and Japan-based products, a bourgeoning region for Topps and collecting.

«I'm happy to be exclusively partnering with Topps to give fans unique cards and collectibles for seasons to come,» Ohtani said in a statement.

Ohtani joins fellow Japanese players Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui with Topps deals.

«Japanese allocation is a big piece and you better believe, for the accounts in Japan, there's never enough [product],» Leiner says. «They're always asking for more. Our largest Japanese partner, Mint Collectibles, they own and operate a chain of 28 stores across Japan and the hobby is vibrant over there.»

In early January 2018, Fanatics opened an office in Tokyo and launched Fanatics Japan, nearly four years to the day before acquiring Topps. Topps followed suit, opening an office in Tokyo in 2021.

«We're pushing, we're