The 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class will be announced Tuesday.
Ichiro Suzuki, who amassed 3,089 hits in 19 major-league seasons and is the sport's all-time hit leader when you include his 1,278 hits from Japan, is a shoo-in to be electe, and the only real question is whether the vote will be unanimous.
As Ichiro awaits his ticket to Cooperstown, cllct takes a look at his most valuable cards.
1. 2001 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection autographed No. 120 Ichiro Suzuki signed rookie card (/250) PSA 10
Ichiro’s most expensive card sale by a wide margin belongs to the $207,400 paid in October 2023 for one of three PSA 10 copies of his Ultimate Collection rookie card, autographed and serial numbered to 250.
2. 2001 SP Authentic Future Watch Limited No. 91 Ichiro rookie card (/50) - PSA 10
Only 50 copies of the “Future Watch Limited” parallel from Upper Deck’s 2001 SP Authentic release were produced, with a PSA 10 selling for $40,590 in April 2021 at Goldin.
3. 2001 Bowman Chrome Ichiro Suzuki (Gold Refractor) No. 351 PSA 10
One of Ichiro’s most recognizable rookie cards, his 2001 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor, was limited to 99 copies. A PSA 10 sold for $43,200 in July 2021 at Heritage. At the time, it was the sole PSA 10 example. Now, PSA has graded eight copies a 10.
4. 2001 Topps Chrome Traded T99 A.Pujols/Ichiro Retrofractor PSA 10
Two of the greatest players of the 21st century share a rookie card: Ichiro and Albert Pujols. A Retrofractor card featuring both stars, one of six graded PSA 10, sold for $38,000 on eBay in May 2024.
5. 2001 Upper Deck SP Authentic Chirography Update Silver #SP-IS Ichiro Suzuki signed rookie card (/100) - PSA 10
Serial numbered to 100 and featuring Ichiro’s autograph, one of four PSA 10 copies of Ichiro’s 2001 SP Authentic Chirography Update Silver rookie card sold for $23,180 at Goldin in September 2024.
6. 2001 Bowman Chrome Japanese Gold Refractor Ichiro Suzuki ROOKIE /99 #351 PSA 9
Along with the English language Gold Refractor listed above, the Bowman Chrome release also included a Japanese alternative for Ichiro’s Gold Refractor. Out of 99 produced, only one has been graded a PSA 10. One of the 21 PSA 9 copies sold for $21,600 at PWCC (now Fanatics) in January 2022.
7. 2001 Bowman Chrome Xfractor Ichiro Suzuki ROOKIE RC No. 351 PSA 10
Among the 34 copies of Ichiro’s Bowman Chrome Xfractor rookie card graded by PSA and SGC combined, only three have earned a “10” grade. One of those PSA 10 examples sold for $18,975 in November 2020 at PWCC (now Fanatics).
8. 2001 SPx No. 150 Ichiro Suzuki RC Rookie Jersey PSA 10 PSA/DNA 10
An autographed jersey card from the 2001 SPx release, one of just two given dual PSA 10 condition and autograph grades, sold for $18,875 in February 2023 on eBay.
9. 1993 BBM Blue Wave No. 239 Ichiro Suzuki Signed Rookie Card PSA 10, PSA/DNA GEM MT 10
The PSA 10/10 copy of one of Ichiro’s earliest cards, presenting him during his time in the Nippon Professional Baseball league of Japan playing for the Orix BlueWave, sold for $18,300 in March 2024 at Goldin.
10. 2001 Upper Deck SP Authentic Chirography Gold #SP-IS Ichiro Suzuki Signed Rookie Card (/25) SGC 8
A Gold variant of the Chirography rookie card, graded SGC 8, sold for $18,000 in March 2023 at Goldin.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.