Yes, I know it’s a Leaf card (unlicensed). And while I wish I could have an Upper Deck game used logo, man patch or bat barrel card, I’ll have to settle for this for now. You can say what you want about Leaf, but the fact that many of their high-end products feature game-worn jerseys, patches, and swatches lets you enter the market for big players at an affordable price. I’d much rather have this than a random Bomwan Chrome prospect auto of a player who might never play in the majors - this card was in the $500-600 range for an all-time great.

Selected for the MLB All-Star Game 10 times, all after his big-league debut at age 27, Ichiro shined in the 2007 edition of the game. The Japanese star earned MVP honors after going 3 for 3 with the events first ever inside-the-park home run - a stand-up two run homer after the ball took a strange carom off the right-field fence in San Francisco.
Artwork created by Ames Bros amesbroa.com