MISSION: MLB

Ichiro’s rookie season coincided with Topps' decision to make gold parallels for the first time since 1994, only now numbered to match the year of the set. As a result, Ichiro's rookie Topps Gold parallel is a must-get for collectors.

2001 TOPPS #726 GOLD

2001 Topps Chrome Traded

#T266 RETROFRACTOR

Although he has a regular Topps card, Ichiro was not included in the Topps Chrome set because of licensing restrictions. He was squeezed into Topps Traded Chrome, however, which were inserted into packs of Topps Traded with rare Retrofractor counterparts to chase. Wildly, just 17 Ichiro Retrofractors have earned PSA 10 designations.

Across the board, 2001 Bowman Chrome Ichiro Suzuki #351 Refractor PSA 10s — in both the standard version and the slightly more coveted Japanese variant — are hard to come by. Out of 26 graded Xfractors, a startling three are PSA 10. His regular Refractor rookie card — all rookies in 2001 Bowman Chrome were Refractors — has just 36 PSA 10 copies, as does the Japanese variant. Just one PSA 10 example of Ichiro's Japanese Gold Refractor parallel exists.

2001 BOWMAN CHROME #351 REFRACTOR

A super-premium product at a time when that was still foreign in the hobby, the 2001 Ultimate Collection Ichiro rookie card lit the industry on fire upon its release. In the days before Exquisite and National Treasures, this was considered the top of the line. And it's his only on-card true rookie autograph, limited to just 250 copies.

2001 SPX #150 SIGNED JERSEY

In the days before RPAs, this was about the best you were going to get: a white swatch of jersey with a framed autograph. At the time, it was something special. While not numbered, it is still rare, with just 265 graded by PSA, including 86 PSA 10s.

2001 ULTIMATE COLLECTION #120 AUTO. /250

Inserted as part of the Avant Card subset, this art-inspired numbered rookie card is an exceptionally tough grade. Out of the 22 examined by PSA, none have commanded a PSA 10 rating, and there are just eight PSA 9s.

2001 FLEER SHOWCASE LEGACY #116

Embossed with a stamp featuring a sweet Topps retro logo and designated only for employees at the company and with a print run of only 150, at that this is arguably Ichiro’s most sought-after rookie card. They rarely come up at auction, and only a handful have been graded.

2001 TOPPS TRADED #726 EMPLOYEE SET