Top 5 current baseball players to collect/invest - Page 2

ThoseBackPages · 12-14-2025, 04:04 PM

Kurtz's cards will be cheaper in 2031

PeteD · 12-14-2025, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

As someone who really likes Kurtz… I completely agree. His prices are silly right now.

yeah right now he's my #1 go to...got tons of the first two over the last 2 yrs.

sandyfrank · 12-14-2025, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slvnumber2

Heard a discussion at a show on top current active players to buy and collect from an ROI standpoint and #1 player was obviously Ohtani with Judge in second. After that it was scattered as far as players to buy for short and long term. Overall the list was as follows and who would you change?

1. Ohtani
2. Judge
3. Skenes
4. Witt Jr
5. Raleigh/Kurtz/Elly

For the 5 spot many names came up with Kurtz having potential after a big rookie year, and if he goes to a bigger media market that is a huge help. Raleigh had a huge year last year but not a lot of hobby love - can he repeat the same type of year. Elly is a 40/40 guy and very young at 23, and played the second half with a partially torn quad. Was super hot in 2023/24 and can he return to form?🤔

I agree with Ohtani & Judge. I would take Skenes off the list as his prices are already very high for a pitcher and one bad season or injury will be very bad for his prices. I would put Soto on the list because I still think he is a future hall of famer and his prices are very affordable. I would have Vlad Jr for the same reason. I wouldn't mind having the three sure fire future hall of famer pitchers Verlander, Scherzer & Kershaw on this list because pitchers are undervalued at this time in sports cards and once they get to the hall of fame they will go up in value.

gamboooler · 12-14-2025, 04:48 PM

Aaron Judge is too expensive, I recommend buying Greg Bird for bigger ROI potential.

PeteD · 12-14-2025, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamboooler

Aaron Judge is too expensive, I recommend buying Greg Bird for bigger ROI potential.

Or Jasson.

bavariancream · 12-14-2025, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteD

Or Jasson.

Had a terrible winter league performance.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

swabie2424 · 12-14-2025, 06:13 PM

Please just collect who you enjoy collecting. If it works out financially… great. If not… oh well. Have fun on the ride and enjoy your collecting adventures.

That said, as a Yankees fan I’ve been collecting Judge since 2013. It’s been a fun ride and I really enjoy my collection. There are few final pieces of upside to collecting Judge. If he wins a WS. If he crosses 500 HRs. If he gets elected to the HOF. He’s a generational Yankee and a beast and Yankee fans will collect him for eternity. Unless he does something really bad in his personal life, his stuff is cardboard gold.

49ersSF · 12-14-2025, 06:48 PM

Raleigh is at a peak. At 29, and a career .226 hitter, he would be a terrible investment right now.

dfenno · 12-14-2025, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rbradleigh

Interesting, you just made me think of a lesson from a Finance class.
A $200 card goes to $1,000 and your rate of return is 500% & an EV of $800

A $5,000 card goes to $15,000 and your rate of return is 300% but EV = $10,000

Would you rather have the 5x rate of return or the 3x ?

The answer really is the EV of $10,000 >> $800

Yes, for a company that has capacity constraints on how many projects they can pursue. Lots of small projects don’t make sense because the payoff is too small even if the cash investment is also small.

But for the vast majority of us, the constraint is the money out the door, so this comparison doesn’t really hold.

seanbros55 · 12-14-2025, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slvnumber2

1. Ohtani
2. Judge
3. Skenes
4. Witt Jr
5. Raleigh/Kurtz/Elly

��

Anyone buying these guys right now is an imbecile that is not concerned with ROI.

From the way you asked your question, the time to buy these players from an ROI standpoint was 2-7 years ago respectively. There’s very little upside at this point to buy now.

ThoseBackPages · 12-14-2025, 07:56 PM

i love collecting ohtani all year round

Rbradleigh · 12-14-2025, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanbros55

Anyone buying these guys right now is an imbecile that is not concerned with ROI.

From the way you asked your question, the time to buy these players from an ROI standpoint was 2-7 years ago respectively. There’s very little upside at this point to buy now.

Tough to be an imbecile if you’re buying who you like & “collect.” Or do you mean an imbecile if concerned with “ROI?” At the same time one’s emotional well being can be considered ROI if we throw out $, though I doubt any of us are using that in the context of ROI.
Bottom line buy what you dig.

PeteD · 12-14-2025, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i love collecting ohtani all year round

If it's not chrome i'm passing...got tons of paper.

seanrs1 · 12-14-2025, 08:57 PM

There have been a lot if these threads over the years. Ohtani and Judge appear to be the only players in which their cards go up in value. Long term these will be the only players that move the needle in the hobby. Ohtani demand is way higher than any other player due to global demand. From ROI long term it's Ohtani.

Any player can get hot or have a great year and double in price. I just can't predict who that will be. And it will be short term. Last year that player was Raleigh. In my opinion most current players have a lot of long term risk. But if you are good at flipping cards short term your ROI will be fine. I know that I can't hobby like that.

So again I will say Ohtani is the safest bet on the list for ROI long term.

Boo · 12-14-2025, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i love collecting ohtani all year round

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanbros55

Anyone buying these guys right now is an imbecile that is not concerned with ROI.

From the way you asked your question, the time to buy these players from an ROI standpoint was 2-7 years ago respectively. There’s very little upside at this point to buy now.

seanbros55 · 12-14-2025, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rbradleigh

Tough to be an imbecile if you’re buying who you like & “collect.” Or do you mean an imbecile if concerned with “ROI?” At the same time one’s emotional well being can be considered ROI if we throw out $, though I doubt any of us are using that in the context of ROI.
Bottom line buy what you dig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo

Sorry. I didn’t say what I meant to say.

The OP posited “Heard a discussion at a show on top current active players to buy and collect from an ROI standpoint” and my reply should have said “anyone buying these guys right now based on possible ROI is an imbecile.” for different reasons per player.

If you’re buying as a collector and fan, more power to you.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 12-14-2025, 10:18 PM

If your sole purpose is investing, Ohtani is the only player you should be buying. He has a very high floor, and still has plenty of room for growth. He still has a shot at 500 HRs, 7 MVPs, more WSs rings, and is a virtual lock for the HOF. The only real risk is that he gets busted for PEDs, hits his wife, or goes all “Kristi Noem” on Decoy.

dunquixote1 · 12-14-2025, 10:54 PM

Ohtani is probably the only answer. Judge has a safe floor. That’s 1-2. I don’t think there is a 3. The issue with Juan Soto is that he hasn’t developed a loyal fan base. He’s on his 4th team in like 3.5 years. His career numbers will be there in the end but I just don’t think he has a sound collector base. And if he doesn’t win with the Mets, like pronto, then his cards probably won’t see any huge increases. Numbers don’t necessarily mean an increase in value. Look at Miguel Cabrera. You could make an argument he’s a top 15 hitter of all time. But none of his cards would have even been a sound investment.

Honestly, long term, I think Ohtani and Judge are really the only chances for actual growth. Ohtani is entering GOAT status so all of his cards that are SP or obscure will continue to be collected…Judge I’d stick to RCs and obscure only.

I’d stay away from any pitcher if you’re collecting for investment. If I could buy put positions on sports cards I’d be taking them out on Skenes.

ThoseBackPages · 12-14-2025, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteD

If it's not chrome i'm passing...got tons of paper.

good, sell me your Blacks!

PeteD · 12-14-2025, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

good, sell me your Blacks!

Only black i have, i pulled from 2024 Stadium Club. Triumvirates insert #/99.

ThoseBackPages · 12-14-2025, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteD

Only black i have, i pulled from 2024 Stadium Club. Triumvirates insert #/99.

ahhh bummer!

boxbuster7 · 12-14-2025, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanbros55

Sorry. I didn’t say what I meant to say.

The OP posited “Heard a discussion at a show on top current active players to buy and collect from an ROI standpoint” and my reply should have said “anyone buying these guys right now based on possible ROI is an imbecile.” for different reasons per player.

If you’re buying as a collector and fan, more power to you.

The truth is Ohtani is probably the safest and best investment in all of sports. So your initial post was a bit silly.

2 years from now we'll all be kicking ourselves we didn't buy more.

PeteD · 12-14-2025, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

ahhh bummer!

ok so you can be my go to guy when i pull one. heh

ThoseBackPages · 12-14-2025, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteD

ok so you can be my go to guy when i pull one. heh

Right on!

bblair_2002 · 12-15-2025, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

The truth is Ohtani is probably the safest and best investment in all of sports. So your initial post was a bit silly.

2 years from now we'll all be kicking ourselves we didn't buy more.

Wasn't but a few years ago people were saying the same thing about Mike Trout.

12-14-2025, 04:04 PM	#26
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 91,402 ThoseBackPages	Kurtz's cards will be cheaper in 2031 __________________ 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

12-14-2025, 06:48 PM	#33
49ersSF Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,382	Raleigh is at a peak. At 29, and a career .226 hitter, he would be a terrible investment right now. __________________ They see what they have been told to see.

12-14-2025, 07:56 PM	#36
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 91,402 ThoseBackPages	i love collecting ohtani all year round __________________ 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

12-14-2025, 08:57 PM	#39
seanrs1 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,388	There have been a lot if these threads over the years. Ohtani and Judge appear to be the only players in which their cards go up in value. Long term these will be the only players that move the needle in the hobby. Ohtani demand is way higher than any other player due to global demand. From ROI long term it's Ohtani. Any player can get hot or have a great year and double in price. I just can't predict who that will be. And it will be short term. Last year that player was Raleigh. In my opinion most current players have a lot of long term risk. But if you are good at flipping cards short term your ROI will be fine. I know that I can't hobby like that. So again I will say Ohtani is the safest bet on the list for ROI long term. __________________ PC-#1 Ohtani PC-Acuna, Soto, Tatis Jr., JRod, Vladdy Jr. Starting to collect-Judge, Betts, Trout Bag holder-#1 Wander Franco, #2 Tatis Jr.

12-14-2025, 04:48 PM	#29
gamboooler Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 8,064 gamboooler gamboooler	Aaron Judge is too expensive, I recommend buying Greg Bird for bigger ROI potential.

12-14-2025, 06:13 PM	#32
swabie2424 Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 622	Please just collect who you enjoy collecting. If it works out financially… great. If not… oh well. Have fun on the ride and enjoy your collecting adventures. That said, as a Yankees fan I’ve been collecting Judge since 2013. It’s been a fun ride and I really enjoy my collection. There are few final pieces of upside to collecting Judge. If he wins a WS. If he crosses 500 HRs. If he gets elected to the HOF. He’s a generational Yankee and a beast and Yankee fans will collect him for eternity. Unless he does something really bad in his personal life, his stuff is cardboard gold.

12-14-2025, 10:18 PM	#42
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 14,435	If your sole purpose is investing, Ohtani is the only player you should be buying. He has a very high floor, and still has plenty of room for growth. He still has a shot at 500 HRs, 7 MVPs, more WSs rings, and is a virtual lock for the HOF. The only real risk is that he gets busted for PEDs, hits his wife, or goes all “Kristi Noem” on Decoy.

12-14-2025, 10:54 PM	#43
dunquixote1 Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 570	Ohtani is probably the only answer. Judge has a safe floor. That’s 1-2. I don’t think there is a 3. The issue with Juan Soto is that he hasn’t developed a loyal fan base. He’s on his 4th team in like 3.5 years. His career numbers will be there in the end but I just don’t think he has a sound collector base. And if he doesn’t win with the Mets, like pronto, then his cards probably won’t see any huge increases. Numbers don’t necessarily mean an increase in value. Look at Miguel Cabrera. You could make an argument he’s a top 15 hitter of all time. But none of his cards would have even been a sound investment. Honestly, long term, I think Ohtani and Judge are really the only chances for actual growth. Ohtani is entering GOAT status so all of his cards that are SP or obscure will continue to be collected…Judge I’d stick to RCs and obscure only. I’d stay away from any pitcher if you’re collecting for investment. If I could buy put positions on sports cards I’d be taking them out on Skenes.