In the fast-paced world of baseball card collecting, grading trends offer more than just insight into market activities. They provide a glimpse into the players who are capturing the hearts of collectors worldwide. With data analyzed by Baseball America from Gemrate.com, the top MLB rookies and prospects of 2024 have been unveiled, showcasing their immense popularity within the hobby.
Leading the pack is Elly De La Cruz, who emerged as the most graded MLB rookie of the year. With a staggering 93,194 cards graded by November 4, De La Cruz has become a highly coveted player among collectors. Trailing closely behind are National League Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes, and top prospect Jackson Holliday, proving to be hot favorites in the grading market.
According to Gemrate founder Ryan Stuczynski, De La Cruz was undoubtedly the big chase of 2024, evident from his substantial grading numbers. In comparison, even American League MVP Aaron Judge fell short with 75,545 cards graded during the same period. However, it was the National League MVP, Shohei Ohtani, who set a new benchmark in the industry. With a mind-boggling 231,783 cards graded in the first 10 months of 2024 alone, Ohtani solidified his position as the most collectible player in the hobby.
Stuczynski remarked that the grading frenzy surrounding Ohtani was unprecedented in baseball card history, with a cumulative total of 740,000 graded cards placing him second only to Ken Griffey Jr. in all-time rankings. Surprisingly, Ohtani’s 2024 data alone would have secured him the 15th spot in baseball card grading history, highlighting his unparalleled popularity among collectors.
Looking beyond the established stars, the top prospects also received significant attention in the grading market. Jasson Dominguez led the pack among Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects in 2024, with Dylan Crews and Walker Jenkins following closely behind. This trend mirrors the growing fascination with baseball’s upcoming talents, as collectors eagerly anticipate the next breakout stars.
A closer look at the data reveals the impact of hype on the baseball card market. As new prospects emerge and rookies shine on the field, collectors rush to acquire their cards, driving up grading activities. The numbers are drawn from the major grading companies in the industry, including PSA, BGS, ISA, SGC, and CGC, indicating a widespread interest in grading trends across the hobby.
Understanding grading trends is crucial for collectors to navigate the market effectively. Strong grading numbers often translate into heightened collector interest and increasing card values for rookies and prospects. With players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge dominating the market, their star power creates unparalleled activity within the hobby.
As the baseball card market continues to evolve in 2024, these players are set to make even more significant waves, both on and off the field. So, stay tuned for the latest updates and be ready to catch the next big hobby icons before they become the talk of the town.