In the world of baseball card collecting, grading trends do more than determine market activity; they shed light on the players captivating the collective attention of collectors. Elly De La Cruz has emerged as a frontrunner among MLB rookies for the first ten months of 2024 based on the total number of graded trading cards, solidifying his immense popularity among collectors.
Hot on De La Cruz’s trail are National League Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes, and top prospect, Jackson Holliday, as per data from Gemrate.com analyzed by Baseball America.
Founder of Gemrate, Ryan Stuczynski, noted, “Elly was the big chase in 2024, and his supply highlights that.” De La Cruz had an impressive 93,194 cards graded by November 4, making him the most sought-after rookie in the grading market. In comparison, American League MVP Aaron Judge saw 75,545 cards graded during the same period.
Nonetheless, National League MVP Shohei Ohtani has set the gold standard. Ohtani had a staggering 231,783 cards graded in the first ten months of 2024 alone, solidifying his status as the most collectible player in the hobby.
Stuczynski remarked, “Grading activity for Ohtani is unlike anything we’ve seen in the baseball category.” Ohtani’s cumulative total of 740,000 graded cards positions him second all-time, trailing only Ken Griffey Jr. Remarkably, even considering only 2024 data, Ohtani would rank 15th all-time in baseball card grading.
In the realm of top prospects, Jasson Dominguez led Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects in total graded cards for 2024. Dylan Crews and Walker Jenkins rounded out the top three, underscoring the escalating interest in baseball’s budding stars.
The data also emphasizes the impact of hype on the baseball card market. As fresh prospects ascend and rookies deliver standout performances, collectors flock to acquire their cards, thereby catalyzing grading activity.
The grading data is consolidated from the industry’s four major grading companies:
1. PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
2. BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
3. ISA (International Sports Authentication)
4. SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation)
5. CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)
The involvement of each company depicts the vast influence of grading trends across the hobby, reflecting not only player performance but also collectors’ sentiments.
Grading figures provide valuable insights into player popularity, market demand, and prospective investment opportunities. For rookies and prospects, robust grading activity often translates to augmented collector interest and escalating card values. Meanwhile, luminaries like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge reign over the market with their stellar prowess, stimulating unrivaled activity.
For collectors, comprehending grading trends is pivotal in navigating the market, whether pursuing rookies like De La Cruz or prospecting future stars like Dominguez. Armed with data of this nature, collectors can better anticipate which players might emerge as the next prominent icons in the hobby.
As the baseball card market progresses in 2024, anticipate these players to continue influencing both the field and collectors alike.
