✹The PERENNIAL Shohei Ohtani Thread✹

[SoCalsFinest]

Originally Posted by hammertime

A bunt??!

Yamamoto must have reminded him that he got a bunt hit in the WBC.

[ThoseBackPages]

Topps NOW!

[Trueblue]

A couple monster EV balls caught today. Think it was like 104 on the warning track and 114 on the pull side. Better luck tomorrow.

[as921011]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Much better image...

Wow, what a monster card!!

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[Stringmusic]

Finally got my rookie auto I’ve been looking for! Can’t wait to get it in hand!




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[Bcr]

That's a fine 9! Congrats!

[Rage]

Nice bold auto too!

[ThoseBackPages]

LOVE IT!

[Stringmusic]

Thanks guys, I’m pretty happy! Tried to follow Trueblue’s advice and make sure the auto was crisp and bold, hope it looks as good in person!

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by Stringmusic

Finally got my rookie auto I’ve been looking for! Can’t wait to get it in hand!

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Congrats! A classic . Was wondering if you bid on it.

I strangely ended up with another version of this card I didn't think I'd win

[Stringmusic]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

Congrats! A classic . Was wondering if you bid on it.

I strangely ended up with another version of this card I didn't think I'd win

Thanks man!

Definitely post when you get it, I’d be interested to see what it is!

[seanrs1]

Anyone else on here follow the Ohtani low end 2018 RC market? I feel like I am seeing something unusual. Prices on many cards seem to be down 50% from peak and are looking closer to the 2021 or 2022 market. I could understand this pricing if Ohtani was slumping, injured or having a terrible year, but the guy is hitting at a MVP level.

I am a long term Ohtani collector so I am not looking to sell, I just can't explain the market at this time. I am completely baffled.

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by seanrs1

Anyone else on here follow the Ohtani low end 2018 RC market? I feel like I am seeing something unusual. Prices on many cards seem to be down 50% from peak and are looking closer to the 2021 or 2022 market. I could understand this pricing if Ohtani was slumping, injured or having a terrible year, but the guy is hitting at a MVP level.

I am a long term Ohtani collector so I am not looking to sell, I just can't explain the market at this time. I am completely baffled.

Pretty simple explanation. Economy. The main consumer of low-end is the casual consumer. The casual consumer's expendable income is far less than it was in 2021-22. The obvious cause for average expendable income decrease is due to savings depletion, debt increase, weakening labor market, etc. When the casual consumer needs money, they sell off non-essential goods, like low-end baseball cards. More supply leads to lower prices.

[Trueblue]

To perpetuate that point further, the last five sales for "2018 Ohtani Topps Auto" are:

1) 2018 BCA PSA 10 for $13.4K
2) 2018 High Tek Portraitek /75 BGS 9.5 for $4.5K
3) 2018 Finest Base PSA 9 for $3.3K
4) 2018 Bowman's Best Atomic PSA 10 for $13.0K
5) 2018 BCA PSA 10 for $13.1K

High end is doing just fine. It's also a completely different consumer from the casual consumer.

[seanrs1]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

Pretty simple explanation. Economy. The main consumer of low-end is the casual consumer. The casual consumer's expendable income is far less than it was in 2021-22. The obvious cause for average expendable income decrease is due to savings depletion, debt increase, weakening labor market, etc. When the casual consumer needs money, they sell off non-essential goods, like low-end baseball cards. More supply leads to lower prices.

Thanks for the perspective! So I should think of low end 2018 RC much like a commodity that will tend to fluctuate with economy and performance. I guess this also allows those with cash to benefit. You can buy when prices go down and sell when they go back up (assuming they will go back up at some point). I also assume that even some one like you will buy base at the right price to grade and sell to put more into high end.

Trueblue...at what price point does the card price not fluctuate much with the economy (only performance)? My assumption is it has to be higher than your average auto...so 20k or more?

[Trueblue]

Originally Posted by seanrs1

Thanks for the perspective! So I should think of low end 2018 RC much like a commodity that will tend to fluctuate with economy and performance. I guess this also allows those with case to benefit. You can buy when prices go down and sell when they go back up (assuming they will go back up at some point). I also assume that even some one like you will buy base at the right price to grade and sell to put more into high end.

Trueblue...at what price point does the card price not fluctuate much with the economy (only performance)? My assumption is it has to be higher than your average auto...so 20k or more?

Never. Even 52 mantles fluctuate with the economy. It's just not as volatile as something that has thousands of high graded copies. The key is finding the right balance between rarity, desirability, and value.

To add - I used to buy stacks of base to grade and flip into high-end (2020-2022) but the quality of raw has dropped considerably (picked through) and grading fees make it less enticing. Grading base in general was more of a 2020-2022 thing and is pretty much a ROI/cashflow death trap now. It was always clear from an economical and print run perspective that graded base modern was going to crash. Even the US175 is worth 1/5 of peak, with player performance only being a partial factor.

[BC Hunt]

Originally Posted by Stringmusic

Thanks guys, I’m pretty happy! Tried to follow Trueblue’s advice and make sure the auto was crisp and bold, hope it looks as good in person!

congrats, great choice!

[Stringmusic]

Originally Posted by BC Hunt

congrats, great choice!

Thanks! I call it Bowman Chrome (lite) it’s for ballers on a budget.

[gopowergoh]

Anyone else seen another of these to the moon ohtani autos?
Been ripping topps big league with my 7 year old in search of one of these.
I would actually love to get him one but I missed out on this one
https://www.ebay.com/itm/31529062199...998&nordt=true

[Trueblue]

Shohei the one-man show. Double, steals third, comes home on throwing error.

SB #12

[hammertime]

Double #17
SB #12

[hammertime]

Nice piece of hitting right there...love to see him driving in runs!

[Trueblue]

SB #13

[hammertime]

Originally Posted by Trueblue

SB #13

And one pair of destroyed Fanatics pants

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by hammertime

And one pair of destroyed Fanatics pants

Shohei’s pants or someone in this thread’s pants?