In the world of baseball card collecting, the grading trends not only depict market activity but also shed light on the players garnering the most attention. As we delve into the first ten months of 2024, one name stood out among MLB rookies in the total number of graded trading cards: Elly De La Cruz. His immense popularity among collectors was unmistakable.
Following closely behind were National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and top prospect Jackson Holliday, as per data from Gemrate.com analyzed by Baseball America.
“Elly was the big chase in 2024, and his supply highlights that,” mentioned Gemrate founder Ryan Stuczynski. By November 4, De La Cruz had an impressive 93,194 cards graded, solidifying his position as the most sought-after rookie in the grading market. For comparison, American League MVP Aaron Judge had 75,545 cards graded during the same period.
However, it was National League MVP Shohei Ohtani who set the ultimate benchmark. Ohtani had a staggering 231,783 cards graded in the first ten months of 2024 alone, establishing himself as the most collectible player in the hobby.
“Grading activity for Ohtani is unlike anything we’ve seen in the baseball category,” Stuczynski emphasized. Ohtani’s cumulative total of 740,000 graded cards ranks him second all-time, trailing only Ken Griffey Jr. Remarkably, even considering only 2024’s data, Ohtani would still secure the 15th spot all-time in baseball card grading.
When it comes to prospects featured on graded cards, Jasson Dominguez led Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects in total graded cards for 2024, with Dylan Crews and Walker Jenkins following closely behind. This highlights the growing interest in baseball’s budding talents.
The data underscores how hype impacts the baseball card market. As new prospects emerge and rookies dazzle with standout performances, collectors gravitate towards their cards, significantly boosting grading activity.
The grading data is sourced from the prominent grading companies in the card-collecting industry, including PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), BGS (Beckett Grading Services), ISA (International Sports Authentication), SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation), and CGC (Certified Guaranty Company). Each company’s involvement showcases the broad impact of grading trends across the hobby, reflecting not only player performance but also collector sentiment.
Grading trends hold significant importance as they provide valuable insights into player popularity, market demand, and potential investment opportunities. For rookies and prospects, robust grading activity often translates to heightened collector interest and escalating card values. Meanwhile, players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge dominate the market with their star power, driving unparalleled activity.
Understanding grading trends is paramount for collectors to navigate the market effectively, whether they are pursuing rookies like De La Cruz or investing in future stars like Dominguez. Armed with data like this, collectors can better anticipate which players might emerge as the next prominent icons in the hobby.
As the baseball card market continues to evolve in 2024, these players will undoubtedly continue making waves, both on and off the field.
