"Hobby Good" going in to 2025

Twalk1975 · 03-25-2025, 06:30 AM

It's almost Opening Day, and unless I missed it, we haven't had the Hobby Good debate for this year. The term has never really been well defined, so feel free to use whatever standard you like.

1. Ohtani
2. Judge
3. Witt
4. Skenes
5. Soto

I am also interested in second tier players who might move up with outstanding years. Two I'll be watching this year are Vlad, and Elly de la Cruz.

NYBBFAN · 03-25-2025, 07:12 AM

Two second-tier players in a prove it or lose it year:

Vlad and Julio

Akphillips86 · 03-25-2025, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

Two second-tier players in a prove it or lose it year:

Vlad and Julio

Julio for sure is in a make or break year.

Vlad is a great hitter that people are just sleeping on because he’s not currently on the hype train. To be fair, he’s somewhat one dimensional in comparison to other stars, but his career numbers are likely to be outstanding. I don’t think he will move up or down fast.

I always think long term though. Vlad probably isn’t a great short term buy and flip candidate that many are looking for. Chourio is probably my nominee for that even though I want to hold my one card of him.

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MiamiMarlinsFan · 03-25-2025, 07:41 AM

Jackson Chourio makes the list this year. He’s not on it right now, but he’ll be there at the end.

ObanMontecristo · 03-25-2025, 07:43 AM

I think your list of Tier 1 players is right as of this moment.

Tier 2 (any of these guys could potentially jump into, or back into, Tier 1 with an outstanding full season):
Vlad Jr
Elly
Julio
Trout
Harper
Betts
Acuna
Carroll
Chourio
Gunnar

Akphillips86 · 03-25-2025, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twalk1975

It's almost Opening Day, and unless I missed it, we haven't had the Hobby Good debate for this year. The term has never really been well defined, so feel free to use whatever standard you like.

1. Ohtani
2. Judge
3. Witt
4. Skenes
5. Soto

I am also interested in second tier players who might move up with outstanding years. Two I'll be watching this year are Vlad, and Elly de la Cruz.

Bryce, Mookie, still Trout even if less so than he used to be…

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Akphillips86 · 03-25-2025, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

Bryce, Mookie, still Trout even if less so than he used to be…

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Of course Ronnie with some health…

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BabaORiley · 03-25-2025, 08:17 AM

Only including guys who debuted 2016 or later because your surefire HOFers (Trout, Harper, Mookie, Kershaw, et al) aren't quite as subject to market fluctuations based on "hot weeks" or whatever...

Tier 1:
Shohei

Tier 2:
Skenes
Soto
Judge
Bobby Baseball
Roki Sasaki
Elly
Chourio
Acuna (when he returns)

Tier 2b:
J-Rod
Gunnar
Vladito
Yamamoto
Jasson
Crews
James Wood (he needs a nickname)
Merrill

Tier 3:
Holliday
PCA - I've sold some cards that would indicate he's at least "hobby good" right now and he's on virtually every "breakout players" list
Yordan
Carroll - easy riser on this list with a quick start
Tatis - needs an MVP type year

Tier Pitcher:
Skubal
Strider
Greene

vwnut13 · 03-25-2025, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

Two second-tier players in a prove it or lose it year:

Vlad and Julio

Who-lio?

LCM1223 · 03-25-2025, 08:28 AM

130+ game seasons from both Trout and Acuna will be good for the sport and therefore everyone else, popping them back into Tier 1 status

NYBBFAN · 03-25-2025, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnut13

Who-lio?

Sigh, I know.

JRX · 03-25-2025, 08:41 AM

Would people here say that Ohtani prices have kind of plateaued? He has the highest floor, but I also don't really see what more he can do to push stuff up more other than pitch in the world series.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 03-25-2025, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRX

Would people here say that Ohtani prices have kind of plateaued? He has the highest floor, but I also don't really see what more he can do to push stuff up more other than pitch in the world series.

No. Ohtani can (not saying will, just can) surpass baseball studs and start completing with all the other sports’ upper level modern studs: Mahomes, LeBron, McDavid, etc…

Ohtani was just featured in Fortnite. He has another level or two in him.

JRX · 03-25-2025, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

No. Ohtani can (not saying will, just can) surpass baseball studs and start completing with all the other sports’ upper level modern studs: Mahomes, LeBron, McDavid, etc…

I think to get there the Dodgers would have to at least 3 peat.

hermanotarjeta · 03-25-2025, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twalk1975

It's almost Opening Day, and unless I missed it, we haven't had the Hobby Good debate for this year. The term has never really been well defined, so feel free to use whatever standard you like.

1. Ohtani
2. Judge
3. Witt
4. Skenes
5. Soto

I am also interested in second tier players who might move up with outstanding years. Two I'll be watching this year are Vlad, and Elly de la Cruz.

I agree with everyone here except Soto.

He’s still tier two, probably because he has switched teams so many times. If he has a mediocre year with the Mets, he’ll be cemented in tier two for a long time.

I think Bryce Harper takes it up a notch.

ObanMontecristo · 03-25-2025, 09:06 AM

I don’t count Rookies or Prospects when determining “hobby good”. There are hot rookies every year, the market always tabs new guys to fill that spot … IMO, the true judge of a ‘hobby good’ player is the demand for their cards in years 2-xx

MiamiMarlinsFan · 03-25-2025, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabaORiley

Only including guys who debuted 2016 or later because your surefire HOFers (Trout, Harper, Mookie, Kershaw, et al) aren't quite as subject to market fluctuations based on "hot weeks" or whatever...

Tier 1:
Shohei

Tier 2:
Skenes
Soto
Judge
Bobby Baseball
Roki Sasaki
Elly
Chourio
Acuna (when he returns)

Tier 2b:
J-Rod
Gunnar
Vladito
Yamamoto
Jasson
Crews
James Wood (he needs a nickname)
Merrill

Tier 3:
Holliday
PCA - I've sold some cards that would indicate he's at least "hobby good" right now and he's on virtually every "breakout players" list
Yordan
Carroll - easy riser on this list with a quick start
Tatis - needs an MVP type year

Tier Pitcher:
Skubal
Strider
Greene

Bobby and Judge are in a clear group of their own below Ohtani, but higher than the other names you currently have them with.

rats60 · 03-25-2025, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRX

Would people here say that Ohtani prices have kind of plateaued? He has the highest floor, but I also don't really see what more he can do to push stuff up more other than pitch in the world series.

There is a lot he can do to push prices up. Become the first clean player to win 4 MVPs, win a CY Young, have a big postseason and win WS MVP.

JRX · 03-25-2025, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

There is a lot he can do to push prices up. Become the first clean player to win 4 MVPs, win a CY Young, have a big postseason and win WS MVP.

Bonds has 7 MVPs. CY Young doesn't sound feasible given they're going to use 6 man rotation unless he becomes a closer. He would have to be better than before to compete for a CY Young and Skenes is in the NL.

ThoseBackPages · 03-25-2025, 09:40 AM

Ohtani is the only active MLBer (MAYBE Judge, but thats debateable) that goes being Baseball Cards and honestly Baseball itself. He is a Global Superstar. This separates him from anyone else in the baseball card hobby.

with the Dodgers constantly winning, it will only help him and his cardboard.

NYBBFAN · 03-25-2025, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

There is a lot he can do to push prices up. Become the first clean player to win 4 MVPs, win a CY Young, have a big postseason and win WS MVP.

On this, we agree.

ThoseBackPages · 03-25-2025, 09:42 AM

i love Fatboy, but the hobby does not care about his Hall Of Fame Father.

not sure what Fatboy will have to do to change his inevitable fate.

ScooterD · 03-25-2025, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rats60

There is a lot he can do to push prices up. Become the first clean player to win 4 MVPs, win a CY Young, have a big postseason and win WS MVP.

I agree that the above would bump his prices, but what happens if he “just” goes 35/35 and doesn’t achieve any of the above?

dodgerfanjohn · 03-25-2025, 10:07 AM

You'd think the 5.4 WAR guy that had this slash line in his first full ML season along with 24 home runs would be on one of these lists.

.262/.348/.479/.827

Also don't see Sasaki anywhere....

JRX · 03-25-2025, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

You'd think the 5.4 WAR guy that had this slash line in his first full ML season along with 24 home runs would be on one of these lists.

.262/.348/.479/.827

Also don't see Sasaki anywhere....

When guys are having 10+ WAR seasons, nobody cares about the guy having a 5.4 War season.

03-25-2025, 06:30 AM	#1
Twalk1975 Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,014	"Hobby Good" going in to 2025 It's almost Opening Day, and unless I missed it, we haven't had the Hobby Good debate for this year. The term has never really been well defined, so feel free to use whatever standard you like. 1. Ohtani 2. Judge 3. Witt 4. Skenes 5. Soto I am also interested in second tier players who might move up with outstanding years. Two I'll be watching this year are Vlad, and Elly de la Cruz.

03-25-2025, 07:12 AM	#2
NYBBFAN Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 5,126	Two second-tier players in a prove it or lose it year: Vlad and Julio __________________ https://gallery.us175.com/ https://inv.us175.com/wantlist

03-25-2025, 08:28 AM	#10
LCM1223 Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 26,593 lucards1295	130+ game seasons from both Trout and Acuna will be good for the sport and therefore everyone else, popping them back into Tier 1 status __________________ Total Topps BUNT Profits: $1626.51 KICK: $3243.82 HUDDLE: $300.22 STAR WARS CARD TRADER: $2899.57 STAR WARS FORCE COLLECTION: $1318.14 TWD: $94.09 SKATE: $697.03

03-25-2025, 09:40 AM	#20
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 90,392 ThoseBackPages	Ohtani is the only active MLBer (MAYBE Judge, but thats debateable) that goes being Baseball Cards and honestly Baseball itself. He is a Global Superstar. This separates him from anyone else in the baseball card hobby. with the Dodgers constantly winning, it will only help him and his cardboard. __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

03-25-2025, 09:42 AM	#22
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 90,392 ThoseBackPages	i love Fatboy, but the hobby does not care about his Hall Of Fame Father. not sure what Fatboy will have to do to change his inevitable fate. __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

03-25-2025, 07:41 AM	#4
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 13,745	Jackson Chourio makes the list this year. He’s not on it right now, but he’ll be there at the end.

03-25-2025, 07:43 AM	#5
ObanMontecristo Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Collegeville PA Posts: 1,873	I think your list of Tier 1 players is right as of this moment. Tier 2 (any of these guys could potentially jump into, or back into, Tier 1 with an outstanding full season): Vlad Jr Elly Julio Trout Harper Betts Acuna Carroll Chourio Gunnar

03-25-2025, 08:17 AM	#8
BabaORiley Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ATX Posts: 3,874	Only including guys who debuted 2016 or later because your surefire HOFers (Trout, Harper, Mookie, Kershaw, et al) aren't quite as subject to market fluctuations based on "hot weeks" or whatever... Tier 1: Shohei Tier 2: Skenes Soto Judge Bobby Baseball Roki Sasaki Elly Chourio Acuna (when he returns) Tier 2b: J-Rod Gunnar Vladito Yamamoto Jasson Crews James Wood (he needs a nickname) Merrill Tier 3: Holliday PCA - I've sold some cards that would indicate he's at least "hobby good" right now and he's on virtually every "breakout players" list Yordan Carroll - easy riser on this list with a quick start Tatis - needs an MVP type year Tier Pitcher: Skubal Strider Greene

03-25-2025, 08:41 AM	#12
JRX Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15,950	Would people here say that Ohtani prices have kind of plateaued? He has the highest floor, but I also don't really see what more he can do to push stuff up more other than pitch in the world series.

03-25-2025, 09:06 AM	#16
ObanMontecristo Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Collegeville PA Posts: 1,873	I don’t count Rookies or Prospects when determining “hobby good”. There are hot rookies every year, the market always tabs new guys to fill that spot … IMO, the true judge of a ‘hobby good’ player is the demand for their cards in years 2-xx

03-25-2025, 10:07 AM	#24
dodgerfanjohn Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 5,437 sternroolz	You'd think the 5.4 WAR guy that had this slash line in his first full ML season along with 24 home runs would be on one of these lists. .262/.348/.479/.827 Also don't see Sasaki anywhere....