Collecting Japan Upper Deck Ichiro

UPPER DECK JAPAN



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U.D. Collectors Choice '95 #59.
    (Pictures Ichiro as a special guest at a 1995 NBA exhibition game in Japan. UD made 200 cards, all of which were given to Ichiro. Several are on display at the Ichiro Museum in Japan. This is the only baseball card known to exist that — either directly or indirectly — came from Ichiro's personal "collection." Never a commercial Upper Deck issue of any kind, we know of only five that have surfaced in the marketplace. $3,000 - $4,000

Note: Click here to see another shot of Ichiro at an NBA game (Seattle, 2002). He also appeared on the March '96 cover of "Hoop" magazine, along with Michael Jordan.)

In 1995, Ichiro, then 22, met Michael Jordan during a Chicago Bulls' practice at United Center. Ichiro left their meeting with a wonderful souvenir.

U.D. Ovation '00 #41.
    (2000 made, not numbered. Pictures Ichiro as a Blue Wave — the first commercially issued Ichiro card by a major U.S. card maker.) $50 - $75

U.D. Ovation '00 #B1S Game Used Ball.
    $750 - $1,000

U.D. Ovation '00 Standing Ovation #SO1.
    (2,500 numbered cards made.) $75 - $125

U.D. Ovation '00 Oendan Favorites #OF1.
    $15 - $25

U.D. Victory '00 Pacific Hardball Heroes #H1.
    $8 - $12

U.D. Victory '00 Pacific Hardball Heroes - Promotional version #H1.
    (Has "Sample" printed across the back side.) $40 - $50

U.D. Victory '00 #11
    $8 - $12

U.D. Victory '00 Stat Leaders #61. (Bobby Rose & Ichiro)
    $8 - $12

U.D. Victory '00 Superstar Showcase - Silver background #SS1.
    $25 - $35

U.D. Victory '00 Superstar Showcase - Gold background #SS1.
    $75 - $125

U.D. Stars of Japan '01 #RS1.
    (1,500 numbered cards made.) $100 - $150

U.D. Stars of Japan '01 #RS1. GGUM product.
    (After market item, with bat chip added in 2002 by Graded Game Used Memorabilia. Comes only in a graded state. Contains one of the 1,500 made.) $150 - $175

U.D. / Sato Healthcare Innovation '02 Yunker Special Edition #Y-1 - Y-10.
    (Promotional, 10-card set. Available only at Sato Pharmacy locations. Price is for any of the 10 cards.) $4 - $8

U.D. / Sato Healthcare Innovation '02 Yunker Special Edition" #Y-11 - Y-20.
    (Promotional, 10-card set, second set. Available only at Sato Pharmacy locations. Price is for any of the 10 cards.) $4 - $8

U.D. / Sato Healthcare Innovation '02 Yunker Special Edition Ichiro Trading Card Album.
    (Custom photo-style display album, made to hold all 20 cards in the series.) $4 - $8

U.D. / Pepsi '02 - 3-D Mini-Cards, also known as "Moving" Cards. Eight different designs exist with cards.
    Card 1
    Card 2
    Card 3
    Card 4
    Card 5
    Card 6
    Card 7
    Card 8
    (Price for any in this "Pepsi Bottle Cap" series.) $1 - $2

Apart from the "cards" in this set, 18 other Ichiro and Mariner bottle caps make up the Complete Boxed Set.

U.D. '02 "Ichiro!" #1 of 5.
    (Promotional card set. Any of five may be included with purchase of the "Ichiro!" four-track Compact Disc.)
Card only: $4 - $6
CD with card: $10 to $15.

U.D. '02 "Ichiro!" #2 of 5.
    (Promotional card set. Any of five may be included with purchase of the "Ichiro!" four-track Compact Disc.)
Card only: $4 - $6
CD with card: $10 to $15.

U.D. '02 "Ichiro!" #3 of 5.
    (Promotional card set. Any of five may be included with purchase of the "Ichiro!" four-track Compact Disc.)
Card only: $4 - $6
CD with card: $10 to $15.

U.D. '02 "Ichiro!" #4 of 5.
    (Promotional card set. Any of five may be included with purchase of the "Ichiro!" four-track Compact Disc.)
Card only: $4 - $6
CD with card: $10 to $15.

U.D. '02 "Ichiro!" #5 of 5.
    (Promotional card set. Any of five may be included with purchase of the "Ichiro!" four-track Compact Disc.)
Card only: $4 - $6
CD with card: $10 to $15.

U.D. MVP '03 "2003 Opening Series in Japan March 25 & 26."
    (No number is used. Appears to be an uncut sheet of nine cards, but is really just one huge 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" card that merely pictures the artwork of nine individual cards. The Ichiro card depicted is 2003 MVP Factory Set #182. Other players shown are Edgar Martinez, Bret Boone, Freddy Garcia, Tim Hudson, Eric Chavez, Barry Zito, and Miguel Tejada. Reverse side pictures only Ichiro, amidst lots of Japanese text. Made for distribution at the Seattle vs. Oakland '03 season openers in Japan, but not used as those events were cancelled due to Middle East terrorist concerns and overall security issues.) $10 - $15


All prices shown are for Near-Mint to Mint condition. Cards graded and sealed by any of the grading services may sell for more than is shown here.

  

THE ILLUSTRATED ICHIRO CARDOGRAPHY

PART ONE: CARDS MADE IN THE U.S.A.


Donruss 2001
Donruss 2002
Donruss 2003
Fleer 2001
Fleer 2002
Fleer 2003
Topps 2001
Topps 2002
Topps 2003
Upper Deck 2001
Upper Deck 2002
Upper Deck 2003
Other
Brands

Factory-issued One of One Cards Cards with Authentic Ichiro Signature

 

PART TWO: CARDS MADE IN JAPAN AND ELSEWHERE


BBM
(Japan)
Calbee
(Japan)
Takara
(Japan)
Upper Deck
(Japan)
Other
Brands

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