The official 2024 current players that are "hobby good"

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 02:36 PM

Thought I would start this thread again for the 2024 season. Interested on how things have changed from last year and what the consensus is for this year. I only collect Ohtani, Soto, Acuna Jr., Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez, and Vladdy Jr. at this moment (thinking about Elly De La Cruz).

Started collecting again during Covid (2020) and started buying everyone and had a steep learning curve as I bought the above guys plus others (Wander Franco, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, Gavin Lux, Eloy Jimenez, Riley Greene, CJ Abrams, Jarred Kelenic etc.).

Advice was always to "collect what you like" from the board. Over time I realized there is a difference between good/all star caliber players and the players that are most in demand that are "hobby good"

"Hobby good" is hard to explain as it is part performance, part hype, part expectation, and part popularity that increases the demand among card collectors/investors. All these parts magnify the price of the player as a whole.

I wanted to create this list like last year to create discussion and to try to create a consensus. Clearly things change over time and can affect hobby status (PED's, arrests, bad behavior, poor performance etc.).

The plan is to keep this list fluid and to add and subtract as the year goes on! That and to have fun collecting!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of 2024 Update
I wanted to come back to this thread to see how things have changed this year from the beginning. And a lot has changed to some of the players I collect. I am hoping to get additional feedback on the players below and try to come to an end of the year "hobby good" consensus. For transparency sake this off season I have only been buying Ohtani and Judge.

Tier 1 "hobby good" (in actuality hobby king)
Shohei Ohtani

Tier 2 "hobby good"
Aaron Judge

Tier 3 "hobby good"
Mookie Betts
Mike Trout
Juan Soto
Bobby Witt Jr.
Paul Skeens
Gunnar Henderson
Elle De La Cruz
Jackson Churio
Jackson Merrill

Tier 4 "hobby good"
Bryce Harper
Freddie Freeman
Clayton Kershaw

Tier 5 "sort of hobby good" (aging HOF bound vets)
Justin Verlander
Max Scherzer
Paul Goldschmidt
Nolan Arenado
Manny Machado
Jose Altuve
Giancarlo Stanton
Jose Ramirez
Carlos Correa
Francisco Lindor

"Hobby good injured"
Ronald Acuna Jr.

On life support "Hobby good"
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Yordan Alverez
Julio Rodriguez
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Corbin Carroll

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tier 1 "hobby good" (in actuality hobby king)
Shohei Ohtani

Tier 2 "hobby good"
Ronald Acuna Jr.
Aaron Judge
Juan Soto
Mike Trout
Corbin Carroll
Julio Rodriguez
Bobby Witt Jr.

Tier 3 "hobby good"
Clayton Kershaw
Mookie Betts

"hobby OK to hobby good"
Bryce Harper
Freddie Freeman

Could be "hobby good" with a good performance this year
Elle De La Cruz
Gunner Henderson
Adley Rutschman

On life support "hobby good"
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Yordan Alvarez

Sort of "hobby OK"
Corey Seiger
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Bo Bichette
Luis Robert

Likely a future HOF but not "hobby good" (hobby OK)
Paul Goldschmidt
Nolan Arenado
Manny Machado
Jose Altuve
Giancarlo Stanton
Jose Ramirez
Carlos Correa
Francisco Lindor
Justin Verlander
Max Scherzer
Zach Greinke

Prospects that are hobby hot (could be "hobby good" in the future)
Jackson Holiday
Jackson Chourio

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How the thread was left last year (2023)
Here are my observations for 2023 "hobby good" (hobby great)
1. Shohei Ohtani (In a tier of his own)

2. Mike Trout

Currently "hobby good"
Acuna jr.
Aaron Judge
Mookie Betts
Fernando Tatis Jr.
Juan Soto

Hobby hot and likely "hobby good"
Corbin Carroll
Elly De La Cruz

At the lower end of "hobby good"
Wander Franco
Julio Rodriguez

Probably falling off their "hobby good" status
Vladdy jr.

Possibly "hobby good"
Bryce Harper
Clayton Kershaw

Was "hobby good" for a time and now isn't
Kris Byrant

Future HOF, but not currently "hobby good"
Miguel Cabrera

Likely a future HOF but not "hobby good"
Paul Goldschmidt
Nolan Arenado
Manny Machado
Feddie Freeman
Jose Altuve
Giancarlo Stanton
Jose Ramirez
Carlos Correa
Francisco Lindor
Justin Verlander
Max Scherzer

IronCladLou · 03-11-2024, 02:37 PM

Hobby Witt Jr

KhalDrogo · 03-11-2024, 02:48 PM

You forgot Kershaw. Who is definitely hobby good.

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

You forgot Kershaw. Who is definitely hobby good.

Is he in the same class as Verlander and Scherzer?

BabaORiley · 03-11-2024, 02:56 PM

There are actually quite a few young arms who are Hobby good for pitchers to the extent that they're at least being properly valued after years of being mostly ignored post-Strasburgmania. Many (but not all) of these can be found in the Pitcher thread on BO.

hermanotarjeta · 03-11-2024, 02:56 PM

Is Tatis not hobby good this year?

ThoseBackPages · 03-11-2024, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Is Tatis not hobby good this year?

juicers are tough to gauge

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Is Tatis not hobby good this year?

To me he is hobby good, but I don't get the feeling people are looking to buy him like other young veterans on the list like Acuna and Soto.

Not on the list this year...Wander Franco.

imbluestreak23 · 03-11-2024, 03:13 PM

Bryce is hobby good

Freddie should be up there with Corey

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

Bryce is hobby good

Freddie should be up there with Corey

Added Bryce Harper

DaryanLenz · 03-11-2024, 03:16 PM

Having Corbin as hobby good and e clueing Gunnar is laughable other than that I agree with your observations.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 03-11-2024, 03:21 PM

If Betts is “hobby good” than so is Harper.

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaryanLenz

Having Corbin as hobby good and e clueing Gunnar is laughable other than that I agree with your observations.

Thanks for the sort of complement! If Gunner is an all star and top 5 MVP candidate this year I am sure he will move up in status...unless the board wants to trump my opinion.

hermanotarjeta · 03-11-2024, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

juicers are tough to gauge

Ryan Braun did fine for a while, then dropped off a cliff.

towerymt · 03-11-2024, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

If Betts is “hobby good” than so is Harper.

He isn't.

NYBBFAN · 03-11-2024, 03:38 PM

I guess Bo Bichette is below your radar

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

I guess Bo Bichette is below your radar

I use to collect Bo and I think he is great! If he is an all star this year he is probably in the hobby ok category. I also don't have Luis Robert on here. These guys are starting to age out and their cards don't seem to collect to much of a premium anymore. Would love for both to become "hobby good"

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by towerymt

He isn't.

I have to admit I am borderline on him...he could just be hobby ok.

ThoseBackPages · 03-11-2024, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Ryan Braun did fine for a while, then dropped off a cliff.

tatis had done fine for a while, will he be next to fall off?

parkerj33 · 03-11-2024, 03:48 PM

i don't see how seager or freeman are hobby ok even.
kershaw is in the verlander scherzer bucket of future hof, but hobby ok only.

trout is not quite hobby good...he might be in life support bucket.

harper needs a bump to good...or life support....
bichette and lubob are hobby ok.

shocked to see tatis as hobby good....but we can hope....

i don't quite get the adley love...he's hobby old and a catcher.

all just my opinions...

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

tatis had done fine for a while, will he be next to fall off?

I don't have Tatis on here, but I know he has a top 10 selling jersey and is popular. Could have been an all star last year, and was a platinum glove. If he goes 40/40 this year I could see the hobby softening up on him and him being "hobby good" again. I am rooting for him because I think he is a great and exciting player (or was in 2021).

nowiamsad · 03-11-2024, 03:52 PM

Bryce and Kershaw in Hobby Good. I'd combine the bottom two tiers and throw in Greinke.

Twalk1975 · 03-11-2024, 04:04 PM

My top 5 guess from sales last year..
1. Ohtani
2. Judge
3. Acuna
4. JRod/Soto (tied)

I do not personally know about Trout. I haven't bought
him for a few years, so I haven't tried to sell any either. He is in a weird spot for me.

I did not open much 2023 wax, so I didn't really have any of the 2023 RC's to sell.

KhalDrogo · 03-11-2024, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanrs1

Is he in the same class as Verlander and Scherzer?

Kershaw is tier 2 IMO. $600 Flagship PSA 10. He’s definitely well above those two.

seanrs1 · 03-11-2024, 04:08 PM

Made some edits as people add more comments.

In general it is hard for people to completely agree on "hobby good", but I think most would agree with my Tier 1 and Tier 2 guys.

03-11-2024, 02:36 PM	#1
seanrs1 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,021	The official 2024 current players that are "hobby good" Thought I would start this thread again for the 2024 season. Interested on how things have changed from last year and what the consensus is for this year. I only collect Ohtani, Soto, Acuna Jr., Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez, and Vladdy Jr. at this moment (thinking about Elly De La Cruz). Started collecting again during Covid (2020) and started buying everyone and had a steep learning curve as I bought the above guys plus others (Wander Franco, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, Luis Robert, Gavin Lux, Eloy Jimenez, Riley Greene, CJ Abrams, Jarred Kelenic etc.). Advice was always to "collect what you like" from the board. Over time I realized there is a difference between good/all star caliber players and the players that are most in demand that are "hobby good" "Hobby good" is hard to explain as it is part performance, part hype, part expectation, and part popularity that increases the demand among card collectors/investors. All these parts magnify the price of the player as a whole. I wanted to create this list like last year to create discussion and to try to create a consensus. Clearly things change over time and can affect hobby status (PED's, arrests, bad behavior, poor performance etc.). The plan is to keep this list fluid and to add and subtract as the year goes on! That and to have fun collecting! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of 2024 Update I wanted to come back to this thread to see how things have changed this year from the beginning. And a lot has changed to some of the players I collect. I am hoping to get additional feedback on the players below and try to come to an end of the year "hobby good" consensus. For transparency sake this off season I have only been buying Ohtani and Judge. Tier 1 "hobby good" (in actuality hobby king) Shohei Ohtani Tier 2 "hobby good" Aaron Judge Tier 3 "hobby good" Mookie Betts Mike Trout Juan Soto Bobby Witt Jr. Paul Skeens Gunnar Henderson Elle De La Cruz Jackson Churio Jackson Merrill Tier 4 "hobby good" Bryce Harper Freddie Freeman Clayton Kershaw Tier 5 "sort of hobby good" (aging HOF bound vets) Justin Verlander Max Scherzer Paul Goldschmidt Nolan Arenado Manny Machado Jose Altuve Giancarlo Stanton Jose Ramirez Carlos Correa Francisco Lindor "Hobby good injured" Ronald Acuna Jr. On life support "Hobby good" Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Yordan Alverez Julio Rodriguez Fernando Tatis Jr. Corbin Carroll ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tier 1 "hobby good" (in actuality hobby king) Shohei Ohtani Tier 2 "hobby good" Ronald Acuna Jr. Aaron Judge Juan Soto Mike Trout Corbin Carroll Julio Rodriguez Bobby Witt Jr. Tier 3 "hobby good" Clayton Kershaw Mookie Betts "hobby OK to hobby good" Bryce Harper Freddie Freeman Could be "hobby good" with a good performance this year Elle De La Cruz Gunner Henderson Adley Rutschman On life support "hobby good" Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Yordan Alvarez Sort of "hobby OK" Corey Seiger Fernando Tatis Jr. Bo Bichette Luis Robert Likely a future HOF but not "hobby good" (hobby OK) Paul Goldschmidt Nolan Arenado Manny Machado Jose Altuve Giancarlo Stanton Jose Ramirez Carlos Correa Francisco Lindor Justin Verlander Max Scherzer Zach Greinke Prospects that are hobby hot (could be "hobby good" in the future) Jackson Holiday Jackson Chourio ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How the thread was left last year (2023) Here are my observations for 2023 "hobby good" (hobby great) 1. Shohei Ohtani (In a tier of his own) 2. Mike Trout Currently "hobby good" Acuna jr. Aaron Judge Mookie Betts Fernando Tatis Jr. Juan Soto Hobby hot and likely "hobby good" Corbin Carroll Elly De La Cruz At the lower end of "hobby good" Wander Franco Julio Rodriguez Probably falling off their "hobby good" status Vladdy jr. Possibly "hobby good" Bryce Harper Clayton Kershaw Was "hobby good" for a time and now isn't Kris Byrant Future HOF, but not currently "hobby good" Miguel Cabrera Likely a future HOF but not "hobby good" Paul Goldschmidt Nolan Arenado Manny Machado Feddie Freeman Jose Altuve Giancarlo Stanton Jose Ramirez Carlos Correa Francisco Lindor Justin Verlander Max Scherzer Last edited by seanrs1; 12-27-2024 at 03:13 PM.

03-11-2024, 02:48 PM	#3
KhalDrogo Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 41,410	You forgot Kershaw. Who is definitely hobby good. __________________ I love PSA!

03-11-2024, 03:13 PM	#9
imbluestreak23 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Meandering the matrix code that the hobby/forum overlords spit out Posts: 17,950 shortslabs	Bryce is hobby good Freddie should be up there with Corey __________________ @shortslabs I'VE WITNESSED HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE HERE...IT'S ROTTEN https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerShort

03-11-2024, 03:38 PM	#16
NYBBFAN Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 5,140	I guess Bo Bichette is below your radar __________________ https://gallery.us175.com/ https://inv.us175.com/wantlist

03-11-2024, 02:37 PM	#2
IronCladLou Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,763 eightytwopolly	Hobby Witt Jr

03-11-2024, 02:56 PM	#5
BabaORiley Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ATX Posts: 3,900	There are actually quite a few young arms who are Hobby good for pitchers to the extent that they're at least being properly valued after years of being mostly ignored post-Strasburgmania. Many (but not all) of these can be found in the Pitcher thread on BO.

03-11-2024, 02:56 PM	#6
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 22,777	Is Tatis not hobby good this year?

03-11-2024, 03:16 PM	#11
DaryanLenz Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 531	Having Corbin as hobby good and e clueing Gunnar is laughable other than that I agree with your observations.

03-11-2024, 03:21 PM	#12
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 13,925	If Betts is “hobby good” than so is Harper.

03-11-2024, 03:48 PM	#20
parkerj33 Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Manlius, NY Posts: 1,868 Parker_Cards	i don't see how seager or freeman are hobby ok even. kershaw is in the verlander scherzer bucket of future hof, but hobby ok only. trout is not quite hobby good...he might be in life support bucket. harper needs a bump to good...or life support.... bichette and lubob are hobby ok. shocked to see tatis as hobby good....but we can hope.... i don't quite get the adley love...he's hobby old and a catcher. all just my opinions...

03-11-2024, 03:52 PM	#22
nowiamsad Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: CA Posts: 585	Bryce and Kershaw in Hobby Good. I'd combine the bottom two tiers and throw in Greinke.

03-11-2024, 04:04 PM	#23
Twalk1975 Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,066	My top 5 guess from sales last year.. 1. Ohtani 2. Judge 3. Acuna 4. JRod/Soto (tied) I do not personally know about Trout. I haven't bought him for a few years, so I haven't tried to sell any either. He is in a weird spot for me. I did not open much 2023 wax, so I didn't really have any of the 2023 RC's to sell.

03-11-2024, 04:08 PM	#25
seanrs1 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,021	Made some edits as people add more comments. In general it is hard for people to completely agree on "hobby good", but I think most would agree with my Tier 1 and Tier 2 guys.