Just curious, if you collect current players, but don't collect Ohtani, tell me why?
 

Started collecting again during Covid. Bought a lot of current players in the past. Now my collecting focus is on Ohtani. He is a unicorn two way player, 3x MVP, MVP in AL and NL, first DH to win MVP, and first player with a 50/50 season. It appears the Dodgers will be a WS contender for years and Ohtani is still in his prime. Of all the current players he is the top one in the hobby right now.

So if collect current players, and don't collect Ohtani please tell me why. I am curious. I expect some of the following answers

1. I only collect players from the team I root for
2. I only buy wax/sets
3. I only buy prospects to flip/make money
4. His cards are too expensive now (I missed my buying opportunity)
5. I think his two way days will be short lived and once the novelty wears off his cards will drop in price (ie. his cards are over valued and hyped).


So let me hear it!

No. 4

Honestly, I wouldn't worry at all about why people collect or don't collect him. No one has to justify why or who they collect.

Sho's probably my favorite current player, but his card pricing is outrageous. I imagine they'll substantially drop in price after he retires or his performance starts to decline. Now's not the time to be buying, IMO.

He’s too expensive. I can’t afford any of his nice cards. I like collecting players I can afford to acquire cool cards of, cards that matter, that are worth having.

Once I get priced-out of collecting a player, I reduce my buying and/or move on to another player who is in my budget range.

To me, Ohtani is the GOAT but I only have two of his cards in my PC (2018 Topps S2 Black /76 & 2023 Topps WBC Orange Cracked Ice Auto Relic /25).

I eventually plan to add at least one on-card RC auto of his to the PC but I'm not in any rush to do so because they're: (1) overly expensive (aka "risky"), and (2) incredibly abundant.

We've all seen hobby GOAT prices fall after peak performance years so we can expect an eventual pullback for most Ohtani cards. Additionally, key cards of other baseball (as well as non-baseball) stars can be obtained for a fraction of the price of their Ohtani equivalent, and we're not talking about chumps either.

From a collecting standpoint, it only makes sense to pull the trigger on well-priced & rare Ohtani cards right now.

From an investment standpoint, there's a number of other players who offer less-risky plays (e.g., they have a better chance of increasing in value [and a higher % change too] than Ohtani at current prices).

Not everyone got in on Ohtani early. If one did, it's easy to move his non-essential cards to pick up his essential cards at current prices because it's essentially re-organizing the PC at no additional cost (play money). But if one is just joining the Ohtani party, risk is quite high.

[QUOTE=Big35Hurt;19778574]Honestly, I wouldn't worry at all about why people collect or don't collect him. No one has to justify why or who they collect.[/QUOTE]


This X100

He doesn't play for the Reds.

I only collect players in Red Sox uniforms.

I came in way too late.

I found 5-6 cards I like, 3 monsters, and I'm probably done.

When his 2024 Topps Chrome golds /50 are going for $1k+, and I'm talking wave, ray wave, every gilded, et al) ... it's just too much.

No reason not to go all-in on Ohtani.

Sincerely,

Mike Trout

[QUOTE=JimEd14;19778660]I came in way too late.

I found 5-6 cards I like, 3 monsters, and I'm probably done.

When his 2024 Topps Chrome golds /50 are going for $1k+, and I'm talking wave, ray wave, every gilded, et al) ... it's just too much.[/QUOTE]

Prices for Ohtani's 2024 Dodgers cards are certainly concerning as it reminds me of LeBron's first-year 2018-19 Lakers cards (and those cards crumbled over time). Obviously, different player and sport but I can't see such values sustaining over time.

Some people collect for joy and Ohtani doesn't do that for them. Very simple.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19778665]No reason not to go all-in on Ohtani.

Sincerely,

Mike Trout[/QUOTE]

Rarely do we ever agree but you're 100% on the money here.

He’s too expensive. But this is an odd question? You’re just curious about why people don’t collect the player you collect?


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[QUOTE=Trueblue;19778669]Some people collect for joy and Ohtani doesn't do that for them. Very simple.[/QUOTE]


He brings me yorokobi!


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[QUOTE=NYRE2PECT;19778676]He brings me yorokobi!


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hahaha baka

[QUOTE=sauceboy;19778582]Sho's probably my favorite current player, but his card pricing is outrageous. I imagine they'll substantially drop in price after he retires or his performance starts to decline. Now's not the time to be buying, IMO.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MiamiMarlinsFan;19778594]He’s too expensive. I can’t afford any of his nice cards. I like collecting players I can afford to acquire cool cards of, cards that matter, that are worth having.

Once I get priced-out of collecting a player, I reduce my buying and/or move on to another player who is in my budget range.[/QUOTE]

I’ve been told you need to adjust to the times.

Do your research to buy cheap wax and baby formula and flip for 10x profit.

Go back to school and get a better job.

Be a box flipper boi and stop being lazy to fund your Ohtani PC.

I’m not criticizing you guys.

That’s just what I was told by the BO experts.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19778692]I’ve been told you need to adjust to the times.

Do your research to buy cheap wax and baby formula and flip for 10x profit.

Go back to school and get a better job.

Be a box flipper boi and stop being lazy to fund your Ohtani PC.

I’m not criticizing you guys.

That’s just what I was told by the BO experts.[/QUOTE]

I guess I need to watch that Hobby Hustle doc!

[QUOTE=sauceboy;19778582]Sho's probably my favorite current player, but his card pricing is outrageous. I imagine they'll substantially drop in price after he retires or his performance starts to decline. Now's not the time to be buying, IMO.[/QUOTE]

Is this how you normally collect? You buy players past their prime or after they retire?

[QUOTE=eastbayak;19778626]To me, Ohtani is the GOAT but I only have two of his cards in my PC (2018 Topps S2 Black /76 & 2023 Topps WBC Orange Cracked Ice Auto Relic /25).

I eventually plan to add at least one on-card RC auto of his to the PC but I'm not in any rush to do so because they're: (1) overly expensive (aka "risky"), and (2) incredibly abundant.

We've all seen hobby GOAT prices fall after peak performance years so we can expect an eventual pullback for most Ohtani cards. Additionally, key cards of other baseball (as well as non-baseball) stars can be obtained for a fraction of the price of their Ohtani equivalent, and we're not talking about chumps either.

From a collecting standpoint, it only makes sense to pull the trigger on well-priced & rare Ohtani cards right now.

From an investment standpoint, there's a number of other players who offer less-risky plays (e.g., they have a better chance of increasing in value [and a higher % change too] than Ohtani at current prices).

Not everyone got in on Ohtani early. If one did, it's easy to move his non-essential cards to pick up his essential cards at current prices because it's essentially re-organizing the PC at no additional cost (play money). But if one is just joining the Ohtani party, risk is quite high.[/QUOTE]

When you talk about investment...do you mean short term or long term? I have a feeling most players I collect during their playing days or worth way less after holding long term. The exception to this rule are the GOAT's. If Ohtani turns out to be a GOAT he is the only current player I am confident in will be worth more long term then today.

BTW...I did not get in on Ohtani early. Started collecting in 2021 during his first MVP year.

[QUOTE=seanrs1;19778728]Is this how you normally collect? You buy players past their prime or after they retire?[/QUOTE]

That's certainly when cards are at their most affordable pricepoints, no? To answer your question, though, I would rather buy cards of a great player whose career has finished than a current one who might be overhyped. I'm not saying that Ohtani is overhyped, but his card prices probably won't go any higher than where they are at now.

[QUOTE=seanrs1;19778732]I have a feeling most players I collect during their playing days or worth way less after holding long term. [b]The exception to this rule are the GOAT's. If Ohtani turns out to be a GOAT he is the only current player I am confident in will be worth more long term then today.[/b][/QUOTE]

I do not agree with this, FWIW. There are plenty of examples you could point to, but let's look at Mike Trout. He will go down in history as one of the best to ever play, but his cards will likely never again reach the height that they were at in 2019.

Is it just me or do the stupidest posts on this board usually begin with "I was told..."?

[QUOTE=Funkster;19778672]He’s too expensive. But this is an odd question? You’re just curious about why people don’t collect the player you collect?


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So if people only collect vintage, I understand why they would not collect Ohtani. But if you do collect current players I am trying to see the point of view of those that don't collect. I am always interested in learning more about the hobby.

When I was a kid I was a Detroit Pistons fan. So I never really collected Jordan. Also at the time I started collecting I think Jordan fleer RC were being sold at the local card shop for like $300 (1992 or 1993ish). They seemed very expensive for this kid that was middle class. But I do have stacks and stacks of David Robinson 1989 hoops RC that I bought as a kid as well as a ton of other players.

I guess my point is even though he is expensive currently is that a good reason not to collect? I can afford to collect him, so I do. If I couldn't I wouldn't. So I get it.

But if Ohtani turns out to be the modern GOAT will his cards look cheap in retrospect just like Jordan.

[QUOTE=seanrs1;19778732]When you talk about investment...do you mean short term or long term? I have a feeling most players I collect during their playing days or worth way less after holding long term. The exception to this rule are the GOAT's. If Ohtani turns out to be a GOAT he is the only current player I am confident in will be worth more long term then today.

BTW...I did not get in on Ohtani early. Started collecting in 2021 during his first MVP year.[/QUOTE]

Regarding the short-term/long-term question, both are applicable.

Regarding your subsequent point, agreed. For non-GOATs, the highest values often come during their playing years (and particularly around their peak years too).

I already consider Ohtani the GOAT but that doesn't mean there's still a lot of value in his cards at current prices. Unfortunately, he played during a time of overproduction so the vast majority of his stuff is readily available. His non-rare stuff will be vulnerable (his rare stuff also has potential to be vulnerable too, it all depends on price-point).

[QUOTE=OhioLawyerF5;19778735]Is it just me or do the stupidest posts on this board usually begin with "I was told..."?[/QUOTE]

Stupid usually begins with "hermano" and ends with "tarjeta".