Baseball has never seen anything like Shohei Ohtani. That phrase has long been a part of the two-way phenom’s story. But while this is usually said about his on-field performances, one can’t deny even off-field Ohtani is a unicorn. With a fanbase counting to millions, he is the biggest star in baseball today. But just how big does this Los Angeles Dodgers star’s stardom go? His memorabilia’s price can answer that.

Ohtani, like always, had turned the All-Star game into his own proving ground. His home run was a testament to the growing influence that he enjoys in baseball. However, this homer also made that night special and one to remember for fans. So when Shotime’s used helmet came up for bidding – naturally it attracted a huge crowd. But the helmet’s price can surprise even his most ardent supporters.

The LA Dodgers’ auction site has revealed that the All-Star helmet of Shohei Ohtani has gone for $160,010. The bidding began on July 16 and by July 25 a total of 68 bids had been made. Interestingly, the initial price of the helmet was kept at $3000. Imagine that – Shohei Ohtani’s immense popularity increased that helmet’s price by more than 5000%. On top of that, this isn’t anything new for the two-way phenom. 

The Dodgers star’s collectibles have consistently gone for a high price. This was visible earlier in the season when his rare bobbleheads were selling at over $5000 immediately after they were given away. Clearly, the fans love Ohtani and are willing to spend as much money as possible on him. Shotime too somehow manages to live up to this hype. But while Ohtani’s helmet is going out for over $160,000 – he’s making even more money for the Dodgers. The Dodgers’ sponsorship spike is evidence of that. So are the recently released jersey figures.

No.1 in NL and topping the shirt sales – Shohei Ohtani continues his winning run

Ever since 2021, Shohei Ohtani has continuously stayed at or near the top of merchandise sales. While earlier it was his unreal popularity with the Japanese fanbase that helped him, this season the Los Angeles Dodgers’ huge fanbase has added to the number. As a result, not only is the two-way superstar ahead of everyone in the Dodgers, but he is also the topping MLB when it comes to jersey sales. It’s interesting to see how he’s dominating a list that is loaded with superstars.

Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge are right behind him while Ohtani’s Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts is at 4th. So what is the reason for such immense popularity?  Simply put, the two-way phenom is currently operating at another level. Ohtani has hit 31 home runs this season – the most in the National League and second only to Judge in MLB. On top of that, Shohei Ohtani has an average exit velocity of 95.8 mph – again the second highest in MLB. 

Now those are extraordinary numbers for any athlete, right? But then one needs to remember that Shotime is still rehabbing from his elbow surgery. Essentially, he’s doing all of this while still taking it easy on his arm. So is it any surprise that Shohei Ohtani’s memorabilia is selling at a 5000% premium? After all, this is a never-seen-before type of talent and perhaps he deserves that kind of reception. What do you think about this price? Let us know in the comments.