The votes have been tabulated and Topps announced Wednesday that baseball’s dual threat superstar will be card #1 in its upcoming 2022 Series One set. Outfielder/pitcher Shohei Ohtani, whose talents at the plate and on the mound have made him one of the game’s most popular players, will lead off the 330-card set when boxes begin arriving next month.
Voting took place online last fall.
In 2021, the 27-year-old Ohtani belted 46 homers, drove in 100 runs and scored 103 on offense. As a pitcher, he struck out 156 in 130 innings with a 3.18 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
Card number one has always remained an important spot in the Topps checklist, with former selections including the likes of Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams and Nolan Ryan, and other legends.
The last five players to be featured on card #1 include Fernando Tatis Jr. (2021); Mike Trout (2020); Ronald Acuna Jr. (2019); Aaron Judge (2018) and Kris Bryant (2017).
Ohtani will be on the packaging as well, pictured in hitting and pitching modes
2022 Topps Series 1 is scheduled for release on February 16.
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