Lt. Surge's Rattata (Non-Holo) — CGC Mint 9 [Japanese Gym 1: Leaders' Stadium #019]

Lt. Surge’s Rattata (Non-Holo) — CGC Mint 9

Set: Pokémon Japanese Gym 1: Leaders’ Stadium
Card Number: #019
Year: 1998
Rarity: Common
Card Type: Colorless / Basic Pokémon — 30 HP
Finish: Non-Holo / Vintage Japanese Card Stock
Language: Japanese
Illustrator: Ken Sugimori
Grade: CGC Mint 9
Certification #: 6156477134

Why This Card?

• CGC Mint 9 — Impressive Vintage Grade: Scoring a Mint 9 on a Japanese “Old Back” card from 1998 is genuinely rare. The softer vintage card stock and bare-handed play of the era make a surviving copy with pristine borders, sharp corners, and zero surface scratches exceptional.
• 1998 Gym Era Heritage: Part of the legendary Leaders’ Stadium expansion — one of the earliest Gym series releases — representing a Pokémon trained specifically by Vermilion City Gym Leader Lt. Surge. A true piece of franchise history.
• Ken Sugimori Original Artwork: Illustrated by Ken Sugimori, primary art director for the original Game Boy games. His clean watercolor gradients and signature linework give this card an irreplaceable retro charm found nowhere else in the modern card pool.
• Japanese Exclusive Print: This Leaders’ Stadium version was never released in English, making it a Japan-only collectible that appeals strongly to vintage completionists and international collectors seeking regional exclusives.
• Slabbed Vintage Protection: Encased in a modern CGC holder, this piece of 1998 cardboard history is permanently shielded from corner fraying, edge chipping, and humidity damage that plague raw vintage Japanese copies.

All cards are shipped securely. Graded cards ship in their CGC slab.