Japans next big baseball slugger is likely coming to the MLB soon, but collectors dont have to wait to find his baseball cards.
After Munetaka Murakami entered the posting system, all 30 teams have until Dec. 22 to reach a deal with him. Murakami sits sixth on Yahoo Sports’ top 50 free agents.
The 25-year-old corner infielder has hit 246 home runs with 722 RBIs over the past eight seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He was also a Triple Crown winner in 2022.
Even though hes played overseas, Murakami is no stranger to being on a baseball card. His first cards came in 2018 with BBM, which has been making cards in Japan since 1991.
Topps started featuring him on cards in 2021.
And, now, he has thousands of cards on the secondary market.
In 2021, Topps started making cards of players in the Nippon Professional Baseball League. With that license, it put out cards under its brands, including Topps Chrome, Bowman, Bowman Chrome, Topps T206 and Stadium Club.
Its not the only place fans can find Murakamis cards. He also played for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and was featured on a few Topps Now cards from the WBC for his heroics.
Collectors have taken notice.
A 2024 Epoch Premier Star Autographs card is listed for $4,999 on eBay, a record for a Murakami card at the moment. The same card sold five weeks prior for $2,000 less.
While Murakami doesnt have too many signed cards on the market yet, collectors are chasing low-numbered and rare cards.
A 2023 Bowman Chrome World Baseball Classic Flag Superfractor, a 1 of 1, sold for $4,304.85 in May on eBay. And a 2021 Topps NBP Red Foil numbered to just five copies sold for $1,879.99 on Nov. 7.
Starting next year, expect a slew of new cards for Murakami. The World Baseball Classic returns, giving Murakami another global stage, and he should be starting his first MLB season.
Plenty of cards will be available, especially the all-important MLB rookie cards.