Nate Thompson’s 225+ Ohtani Rookie Collection

Discover a Collector’s Passion for Ohtani RCs

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Author: Greg Bates

Topics: Collector Stories, Shohei Ohtani, Trending

Length: 1066 Words

Reading Time: ~6 Minutes

When Shohei Ohtani suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2019, the baseball world held its breath. His card values plummeted as collectors wondered if the Japanese two-way star would ever fulfill his potential. Many bailed, selling off prized rookies at a loss.

But for Michigan collector Nate Thompson, it was the perfect buying window.

Thompson saw not an ending, but an opportunity. He began acquiring as many 2018 Ohtani rookie cards as he could—Topps, Bowman, Chrome, refractors, and parallels—most for under $100.

“I just liked adding all the different variations,” Thompson said. “My collector heart was like, you could get this blue parallel here, a refractor over there. I wasn’t thinking about resale. It was just, wow, these are out there now. I’d never seen some of these cards before”.

By 2021, when Ohtani returned healthy and put up MVP-level numbers, Thompson’s faith was rewarded. He had amassed a deep Ohtani collection during the dip—and he still wasn’t focused on profits.

“If the cards go down in value, that’s not really a hit to me,” Thompson explained. “Hopefully, I’ll buy more rare variations. I just like collecting them and seeing what we can find out there”.

Michigan collector Nate Thompson has built a collection of more than 225 Shohei Ohtani rookie cards. He began buying heavily during Ohtani’s 2019 injury dip, scooping up Topps, Bowman, and Chrome rookies. Today, he collects for passion, not profit, and hopes to pass the collection down to his children.

Collecting Roots

Thompson’s love of the hobby started in middle school in 2007. Like many young fans, he was chasing the hot names of the NFL Draft, including Brady Quinn. But it wasn’t just football that drew him in.

Nate holding his 2018 Topps Series 2 Baseball Negative Black & White #700 Ohtani (All 📷 by Nate Thompson)

“I discovered Allen & Ginter and loved the uniqueness of the product,” Thompson said. That mix of tradition and oddball creativity sparked something that would stick with him for life.

More Than Just Cards

Thompson’s passion for collecting extends far beyond the hobby boxes. In late 2022, he opened The Michigan Museum of Horror in his hometown of Monroe.

“Baseball cards ignited my passion for collecting ever since I was a kid,” he said. “Then the horror stuff as I got older, it was just kind of like a secondary interest. I guess just collecting in general is in my blood”.

The museum houses chilling artifacts from both real-life and cinematic horror. Among the displays: Lizzie Borden’s signature and one of only two vials of Charles Manson’s cremated remains. “We are the only public museum in the world right now that has it on display,” Thompson noted.

Nate Thompson’s Ohtani Rookie Card Collection

Nate Thompson owns 225+ Ohtani rookie cards.
Began buying heavily after Ohtani’s 2019 knee injury when prices dipped.
Collection highlights: 2018 Bowman Chrome PSA 10, Topps Chrome negative refractor, Series 2 paper negative (BGS 9).
Runs the Michigan Museum of Horror with rare historical artifacts.
Collects for passion, not resale, with plans to pass his Ohtanis to his children.

The Pull That Sparked the Chase

After a decade-long break from the hobby, Thompson found himself back in the game in 2018. On a whim, he picked up a Topps Fire blaster box—and pulled a green Ohtani parallel numbered to 199.

“As soon as I pulled that, man, it was just like I was back in 2007 again,” he said. “The chase was on”.

He dove into boxes of 2018 Topps Update, scoring not only Ohtani but also Juan Soto and Ronald Acuña Jr. rookies. Those cards became trade bait.

“I would trade one US250 (Acuña) card for maybe four or five different Ohtani variations,” Thompson recalled. “I had a stack of them. To think about what I got them for back then—it makes me go, man, that was a gift”.

Building a 225+ Card Ohtani PC

Over time, Thompson’s Ohtani collection grew to more than 225 different rookies, ranging from standard Topps base cards to rare, numbered parallels.

His favorites include:

2018 Topps Series 2 paper negative (BGS 9)
2018 Topps Chrome negative refractor
2018 Bowman Chrome in PSA 10

He also has a soft spot for oddball issues, such as the 2018 Topps Archive 1959 Venezuelan gray back variation.

At first, Thompson aimed to collect every base card. Then he expanded into variations and rainbows. Now, he has set himself a new challenge: recreating the collection entirely in PSA 10s. “That’s a work in progress,” he admitted.

Nate’s Ohtani PC

Passion Over Profit

Despite being asked repeatedly if he plans to sell, Thompson has no interest in cashing out.

“I don’t think I’m ready to get rid of that feeling of how I felt when I was a kid,” said Thompson, now 29 and a father of seven. “Hopefully, we’ll pass it down to the kids and they’ll be able to carry it on”.

For Thompson, the true joy lies not in the value but in the chase. Whether he’s adding another Ohtani rookie or curating rare pieces for his horror museum, collecting remains part of who he is.

And in the case of his Ohtani collection, it’s a legacy he intends to preserve for the next generation.

Collector Story FAQs

How many Shohei Ohtani rookies does Nate Thompson own?
- Nate Thompson has built a collection of more than 225 Ohtani rookie cards, including base issues, parallels, refractors, and oddball variations.
Why did Thompson buy Ohtani cards during his 2019 injury?
- While many collectors sold off during Ohtani’s knee injury, Thompson saw a rare buying opportunity. He believed Ohtani’s long-term talent would make his rookies highly collectible.
What are some of Thompson’s favorite Ohtani rookies?
- His collection includes a 2018 Topps Series 2 Negative, a 2018 Topps Chrome Negative Refractor, and a 2018 Bowman Chrome PSA 10.
Does Thompson plan to sell his Ohtani collection?
- No. Thompson has said repeatedly that he collects for passion, not profit. He intends to pass the collection to his children eventually.
What else does Thompson collect outside of sports cards?
- Thompson runs the Michigan Museum of Horror, which features rare items like Lizzie Borden’s signature and one of two existing vials of Charles Manson’s cremated remains.