Shohei Ohtani's Tokyo Series jersey sells for record $2.05 million at auction
Shohei Ohtani's Tokyo Series jersey sells for record $2.05 million at auction
Shohei Ohtani has turned a special moment from his baseball career into a record-breaking piece of sports history. The Los Angeles Dodgers star's jersey from his first Major League Baseball game in Japan has sold for more than $2 million, setting a new benchmark for baseball memorabilia in the 21st century.
A landmark sale from a landmark game
The jersey fetched $2,055,700 in an auction conducted by The Realest, which announced the result on October 19, 2026. Ohtani wore it when the Dodgers faced the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 18, 2025. The Dodgers won 4-1, and Ohtani went two-for-five, hitting a double in front of fans in his home country.
Several details helped make the jersey stand out. It featured a gold MLB logo, a Tokyo Series patch and a tribute to the late Fernando Valenzuela, which the Dodgers wore during their 2025 campaign after winning the 2024 World Series. Ohtani also signed the jersey in kanji, adding a personal touch that celebrated his heritage.
The gold logo carried extra meaning. MLB awarded the special patch to six players in 2025 after their major individual honours in the previous season. Some patches were later removed and turned into trading cards, making the intact version on Ohtani's jersey particularly rare.
"A moment that can never be recreated"
Scott Keeney, also known as DJ Skee, founder and CEO of The Realest, highlighted the significance of the sale.
"The greatest collectibles are the ones that capture moments that can never be recreated, and this jersey represents exactly that," Scott Keeney, also known as DJ Skee, who is the founder and CEO of The Realest, said in a statement. "Ohtani is redefining what's possible in the collectibles market, and the global response to this jersey reinforces just how significant these historic artifacts have become."
Surpassing the previous record
The sale pushed Ohtani past the previous record for a baseball jersey worn during the 21st century. That mark belonged to a New York Yankees jersey worn by Aaron Judge during his MLB debut in 2016, when he hit a home run in his first at-bat. It reportedly sold for $1.792 million.
Ohtani has already made his mark in the sports memorabilia market. Earlier in 2026, his game-worn and signed New Balance cleats from the same Tokyo Series game sold for $440,055, setting a record for baseball footwear.
A legacy beyond the diamond
His achievements on the field help explain the demand. After winning American League MVP honours twice with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani joined the Dodgers in 2023 on a historic 10-year, $700 million contract. He later collected National League MVP awards and helped the team win two World Series titles. In July 2026, he also reached 300 career home runs.
The jersey's sale brings those achievements together in one item. It marks a landmark game in Japan, celebrates Ohtani's heritage and captures a moment that collectors cannot recreate. As his career continues, the record-breaking auction shows how his legacy reaches far beyond the diamond.