BOCA RATON, Fla. — What started as a lucky pull at a South Florida card shop has become one of the biggest stories in the sports collectibles world — and beyond.
The focus is a one-of-one Shohei Ohtani dual gold Logoman autograph card, now believed to be the third-highest sale ever for a sports trading card.
“It’s crazy to think we had a $10 million card sitting here in my store,” said David Davidov of Boca Sports Cards.
Davidov said collectors everywhere had been chasing the rare Ohtani card.
“Everybody was trying to pull this card, buying up hobby boxes, retail boxes,” he said.
Also searching for the card was Secure Collectibles, an investment group made up of three men who own some of the world’s rarest sports cards. The group’s collection is worth more than $32 million.
On July 25, Michael Allen of Miami and Secure Collectibles announced a $6.5 million bounty for the card.
Meanwhile, back at Boca Sports Cards, a loyal customer was opening multiple jumbo boxes.
“He was trying to chase the big card,” Davidov said. “He came and opened up boxes. He didn’t hit anything here.”
Before leaving for vacation, the customer bought one more jumbo box. Inside was the redemption card.
“I’m sitting having dinner. He FaceTimes me, he says, ‘You’re not gonna believe it,’” Davidov said. “I said, ‘Don’t tell me.’ He showed me the redemption card and it was just — I was so happy for him.”
The customer, who requested to remain anonymous, later connected with Secure Collectibles and sold the card for $11 million.
The sale makes it one of the most expensive sports cards ever sold, behind a Michael Jordan-Kobe Bryant card and a Mickey Mantle card.
“Ohtani is going to end up being the greatest player of all time for what he’s doing and continuing on doing,” Davidov said. “Will there be other cards? Probably.”
The excitement isn’t over. Davidov said the next big chase begins next week with the release of Topps Chrome Debut Basketball, featuring Cooper Flagg’s autograph and a patch from his NBA debut. He said that card could sell for more than $5 million.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
