logo
ISA Grading Advertisement

Shota Imanaga Rookie Patch Card Nets $82K in Hot Market Surge

* We may earn a commission from purchases made through our affiliate links.

shotta.jpg

Shota Imanaga’s breakout 2024 campaign is catching attention far beyond Wrigley Field—and the hobby market is taking notice in a big way.

At Goldin’s April Elite Auction, a one-of-a-kind Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph 1/1 card featuring Imanaga sold for $82,961. The card includes a patch taken directly from his jersey worn during his Major League debut and is hand-signed by the Cubs star. It now ranks as the fourth-most valuable card ever sold through Topps’ Rookie Debut Patch series.

That series, which launched in 2023, is one of the most exclusive offerings in modern trading cards. Each card contains a single patch worn during a player’s debut game—removed immediately afterward—and is authenticated by both Topps and Major League Baseball.

Imanaga’s debut couldn’t have gone better. On April 1, 2024, he held the Rockies scoreless over six innings, striking out nine and giving up just two hits. That performance—and the patch from that exact uniform—now lives on in cardboard form, with a price tag to match.

Though impressive, the $82K haul still falls short of the all-time high for a card in the program. That belongs to Pirates phenom Paul Skenes, whose version fetched $1.1 million, setting a new bar for modern baseball card sales.

After a stellar career in Japan with the Yokohama BayStars, where he notched a 2.94 ERA and over 1,100 innings, Imanaga arrived in MLB with high expectations—and exceeded them. He wrapped up his first season with a 15-3 record, a 2.91 ERA, and 174 strikeouts in 173.1 innings.

Collectors and Cubs fans alike are watching Imanaga closely, and this sale shows the kind of buzz he’s bringing to both the mound and the market.

Share:

PWCC Auction Advertisement

0 Comments

Related

Sports Card News

Michael Jordan’s 1992-93 Bulls Jersey Fetches $2.6 Million at Auction, Proving His Legacy Still Reigns Supreme


  • bionic Avatar
  • by bionic
  • May 19, 2025, 3:07 pm

Michael Jordan’s 1992-93 Bulls Jersey Fetches $2.6 Million at Auction, Proving His Legacy Still Reigns Supreme


Michael Jordan’s influence on basketball and the sports memorabilia world remains as powerful as ever. His game-worn Chicago Bulls jersey from the 1992-93 season has just sold for an impressive $2.6 million at auction, reminding collectors and fans al...

Read More

Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1998 Skybox Card Sells for $280K, Setting New Record for The Kid


  • bionic Avatar
  • by bionic
  • May 19, 2025, 2:57 pm

Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1998 Skybox Card Sells for $280K, Setting New Record for The Kid


Ken Griffey Jr. just reminded the sports card world why he’s still one of the most celebrated figures in the hobby. A PSA 9 copy of his 1998 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now card has officially become the most valuable Griffey card ever sold, hamm...

Read More

Downtowns, Kabooms, and Color Blasts Surge as NBA Conference Final Stars Drive Card Market Heat


  • bionic Avatar
  • by bionic
  • May 20, 2025, 2:54 pm

Downtowns, Kabooms, and Color Blasts Surge as NBA Conference Final Stars Drive Card Market Heat


As the NBA’s final four teams clash for a spot in the 2025 Finals, some of the biggest movement in the basketball world isn’t just happening on the court — it’s happening in the hobby. Iconic inserts like Kaboom, Downtown, and Color Blast are se...

Read More