Hobby Quick Hits Ep.196 The Most Graded Players of 2024

We look at the players who had their cards graded the most in 2024 and interject some of my own observations as a bulk grading submitter.

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*Hobby News

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hobby Quick Hits delivering that breaking hobby newsreaders. You want
to know those Josh card shafts. You've got your cover here,
Host John new Name, Hello, everybody out there, Welcome to

(00:28):
the episode one ninety six of Hobby Quick Hits. Today
we are going to tackle the top ten player graded list,
you know, the top ten players being graded or sent
in for grading. I'm gonna go through the list, kind
of give my thoughts for those of you that may
not know. I mean, I am a SDC Folk Suburbs

(00:53):
and uh usually one or two orders per month in
the hundreds to SDC. I think we're up toil like
six or seven thousand cards submitted since I started. I
will kind of throw in my own observations and being
in the trenches of grading submissions as well. I sub
to obviously SGC and PSAU, and so i'll kind of

(01:18):
give my own take who was on the list, thoughts
about that, Maybe some snubs, not necessarily snubs. It's it's
by count, you know, by how many are being submitted,
but maybe some that I'm surprised aren't higher up. I'll
just kind of throw in my two cents there. So
that's today's topic. We've never done this before, but I

(01:40):
think it might be something. Not going to overdo it,
but every once in a while we'll kind of tackle
these these kind of lists.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Okay, Now, a quick word from our great sponsor, followed
by the new product release schedule. Then we'll go around
the hobby verse to tell you all the latest hobby
happenings and news. Then we'll tackle today's topic of discussion.

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(02:51):
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Speaker 1 (02:53):
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(03:17):
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twenty twenty four TOPS Chrome Formula One Racing Sapphire, the seventeenth,
twenty twenty four Bowman Draft Baseball Saphire, Staying on the

(03:40):
seventeenth twenty twenty four Leaf Elvis Presley Icons Collection, Pokemont
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(04:01):
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(04:26):
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(04:48):
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(05:13):
end product, and that concludes your next two weeks. Choose
your weapon, Happy ripping.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Let's go round the hobby verse and catch up on
this week's hobby news.

Speaker 1 (05:26):
And find out all right, probably the biggest news story,
or at least the most interesting to most collectors that
came out. The Tops released it's twenty twenty five flagship design.
To me, in the opinion of myself, it has a

(05:50):
modern day nineteen eighty two design, so if you're familiar
with the eighty two Tops baseball, to me, it reminds
me that, but obviously modernized and updated. Features the player's
name on the side panel and something never done before.
Rather than list the position instead of like shortstop as

(06:11):
SS or outfield as OAF. There is a diamond, you
know baseball diamond image and they put a dot where
the player plays. So if you play shortstop, you'll see
a dot in the shortstop area of that diamond. I'm
not gonna lie kind of like that. It's something different, right,

(06:32):
Aaron Judge is your cover boy will be featured on
the box and packs, and that, as we know, comes
out during the spring training time. So TOPS twenty twenty
five trying to get that flagship buzz going. The National

(06:52):
high school Football Player of the Year, Keelon Russell out
of Duncanville, Texas near Dallas, has been signed to an
NIL deal including autographs by Panini. He will be headed
to Alabama to play his college football. He went this year.
He was thirteen and one. His team was forty one

(07:16):
hundred yards passing fifty five touchdowns. The year prior they
went undefeated and won a state championship. So the number
one high school football player in the country signed to Panini.
On the Becket front, they announced they have signed their
authentication team, led by Steve grad and others, to a

(07:41):
longer term, multi year contract extension, so they're keeping their
guys in house, unlike what we saw where their grading
teams got purged. Now, you know, I know I can
rag on Beckett, you know sometimes, but this is a
good move by the group because I think this is

(08:02):
what you know, if there's one thing that really hasn't
fell off as a company, it's I think it's their
grading expertise led by Steve Grant. So they're going to
keep their team UH intact. The Minnesota Wild of the
NHL have announced a deal with me Gray Mike Gray,
the auction house and selling platform.

Speaker 5 (08:24):
To.

Speaker 1 (08:26):
A multi year deal with them to sell and market
their game used Minnesota Wild equipment and me Gray has
done that with other professional teams, so this is just
the latest in their stable. Their p s A, which

(08:49):
has a Halifax Nova Scotia Nova Scotia UH submission center
in Canada, is moving that one from Halifax to Toronto.
And they also announced that we'll be opening up a
German drop off location. No specific city or timetable just

(09:10):
yet to be determined. Stayed on the grading front, CDC
has announced some slight price increases across the board. I'm
not going to go through all of them. You can
go to their website to see how much more money
grading will cost through them. And you know, I guess

(09:33):
what would a new segment be without a a crime report?
And unfortunately we have won. Martin Jacobs of Northern California
eighty one years old. He's a author and San Francisco
forty nine or historian and was a good friend of
Norman McIlhenny Hall of fame, NFL legend. He went on

(09:59):
vacation and his home was robbed and they took gold, silver,
His parents were wedding rings and cash from a safe.
But they I guess that the silver lining is they
left his memorabilia collection alone. Unfortunately, he was not insured,
so it's a total loss and he's selling his memorabilia

(10:24):
collection now probably based on his age at eighty one,
and to recoup some of the losses on eBay. Uh
So you know the I guess the lesson there. And
you know it's a terrible story anytime someone gets robbed.
But insurance, right, you've you've heard me talk about this before,

(10:45):
like ensure ensure your your valuables and keepsakes that you
know no one wants him stolen, but it's a it's
a double stinger when they're stolen and they're not covered,
and you know, you can cut down at least half
this thing with insurance coverage. So all right, that's this

(11:06):
week or the last two weeks notable news. And all right, guys,
let's talk about the top ten list. Let me see
how many names I got here the top twelve list
in most graded cards by player, and I'll go one

(11:30):
to ten. I know we'd like to be dramatic and
go ten down to one, but most of these will
not be a surprise to people in the hobby. You
could almost probably guess many of them without even seeing it.
So there's really no suspense here. But what I'm going
to do is go through and kind of interject some

(11:50):
of my thoughts and what I'm seeing doing two to
three shows a month and doing BOLK subbing for SGC
and kind of my on the list. So number one
on the list is Wemby. Uh, and not surprised. I
myself have a lot of graded Wemby's, but I will

(12:11):
say this, there's a lot of them in the wild,
if you will, and I've really you know, I've got
my you know, competitively priced, and I gotta be honest
with you, I'm not selling a lot of my graded Wemby's.
And it's not because he's doing bad or that he's
injured like a Zion usually gets. It's not that. I

(12:33):
think the issue here is everyone's sending them in to
be graded, and there's no shortage of them. Right, Panini
didn't stop the presses on their hoops products, especially probably
knowing you know, the end is near. So yeah, this,
you know, we talk about junk wax, you know, junk

(12:54):
slab error. I don't like that term per se, but
I'll just say this, there's a lot of Wemby graded
cards out there, so long term, if he just keeps
playing well, maybe they'll they'll pick up a little bit.
But no, I'm not surprised to see that as the
number one player on this graded card list. Number two

(13:16):
the legend right, Michael Jordan, who in many times would
be number one on this list. And this is sort
of the opposite of Wemby is I do sell a
decent amount of Jordan graded cards, and I think the
difference is there's just not as many. Listen, there's no
shortage of Jordan cards. You know, unless it's a rare

(13:40):
nineties insert. But he's the goat, right, you know, sorry
lebron folks, Jordan's the goat. But you know there's always
a demand for raw Jordan's, for graded Jordan's. I do
very well selling Jordan's. Number three on this list. C J. Stroud,
and you know, he got he was really hot earlier

(14:03):
in the in the year here with the Texans, and
I think a lot of that fed into that he's
he's not doing bad, but sort of that he's kind
of come back down to earth. I like him long term.
I don't have a kind of CJ. Stroud stuff, so
I'm not gonna comment there as to how it's going

(14:24):
on the front lines with him. There was a stretch
even doing my bulk SGC grading, where I got quite
a bit of CJ. Strouds submitted. So but that's kind
of tailed off to us. He's kind of settled down,
and I think people are, you know, waiting to see

(14:45):
what he's gonna do here in the playoffs, how long
he's gonna last that that kind of thing. Number four surprise,
maybe it's not a little higher shohe Atani. I mean,
what do you need to say, right, fifty to fifty
guys kind of transcending baseball a little bit. And then
next year if he returns to the mound, we'll see.

(15:08):
You know, I've never had issues selling show. Hey, he's
one of those guys on this list that you know
if you come to my setup at a show, I'm
not gonna lie to you. Not all my show hazer
are out for sale. There's some that I've kind of
tucked away and just holding on to for the longer term.
So surprise. Maybe he's not a little bit up on

(15:31):
the list, maybe ahead of c This Stroud, but things change, right,
that's the list for now. The next name really does
surprise me because I am not a buyer of this
next guy and talented, but I just don't think he's
going to be a quarterback great and that's Anthony Richardson

(15:52):
of the Colts, and I know he's a prospect. I
know he's a quarterback project. I'm surprised he's this far
up on the list, but I'm I'm you know, each
year that passes here and the Colts are done, there's
no playoffs for the Colts. Kind of gets nicked up,

(16:12):
he gets injured, he misses sometime. I'm all right now,
you know, listen for the two cents it's worth coming
from me. I'm not buying Anthony Richardson and and thankfully
I don't have a ton, but I'm definitely would be
a seller on him. Number six Kobe Bryant, I mean

(16:33):
rest in peace. Uh you know, m humble mentality, Uh,
great at the game, right, Hall of Famer. Not surprising.
They're not much to say. I don't. I don't have
a few Kobe's left quite frankly, He's not in obviously
the same realm as Jordan where people come up and
ask for his stuff like they do Jordan. But there

(16:56):
there is a soft place and a lot of basketball
collectors hot arts for obviously for obvious reasons. So not
surprised that he's sixth on this list. Number seven Lebron
James again, you know, talked about as being one of
the goats. I'm not a I'm not a Lebron guy.

(17:17):
I don't have a ton. I tend to kind of
shy away from him. I'd rather have a Jordan. It's
Jordan versus Lebron. I'd rather have a Jordan card. But listen,
you can't argue with the greatness that is Lebron. So
you know, I do get a lot of Lebron carts
submitted for grading through STC, so not surprised here. Number

(17:43):
eight on this list. Elie Dela Cruz kind of proved
last year with the Reds that the first year wasn't
the fluke. You know, there was a there was a
point there, kind of pictures, watch tape on them, kind
of had them figured out. We kind of settled down.
And then he must have watched film too, because he's
made some adjustments. He looks like a good gonna be

(18:05):
a good player. For a while, I was a little
wary of him, but I'm starting to believe and I
don't think it's a bad deal to get some of
your your key all least grade. And I will say this,
he's one of those players with my STC BOLK subs
I usually get quite a bit. I've had some really
nice cards of his come through on the BOLK sub

(18:29):
and Anthony Edwards, I think he's what number nine now
on this list, solid ball player. I think, you know,
not a sexy guy in the same vein as your Jordan's,
your Lebron's, your Wemby's but kind of flying under the radar.
I think, you know, I think he's a fairly safe

(18:52):
player to put some money into and collect. I'm not
surprised where he is on the list. I'm not saying that,
but you know, I think there's less, you know, less
great well, obviously there's less graded to him of wem
being sort of kind of lurking in the shadows and
flying under the radar, which turns out to be a

(19:13):
good deal. Right. The next person on this list, number ten,
I'm surprised she's not a little bit higher, But I
just think the only reason she's not higher is the
limited availability of cards. She's not in. You know, WNBA
is not as mainstream as obviously NBA, so less cards

(19:34):
of her out there in the wild to be graded.
Otherwise I think she'd be high on the list. I
haven't even said her name yet, and you probably know
who I'm talking about. That's Caitlin Clark, and so she's tenth,
And again, don't read into that. The only reason she's
probably tenth is there's just not as many cards comparatively

(19:57):
speaking as to nine other athletes on this list. I'm
not saying she'd be number one, but I think she'd
be two, three or four if she had as many
cards as some of these other players. Number eleven doesn't
surprise me. He's a guy I personally love trying to
pick up some cards, is even to this day, even

(20:17):
though he's a Hall of Famer no longer playing. But
Ken Griffy Junior, right, And I think people are starting
to look back, you know, when they look at the
steroid era, right, and they hear about all the Bonds
and McGuire's and sosas, and Griffy played in that same eerr.
But obviously he you know, not mentioned in that vein

(20:38):
with performance enhances, and when you look at his numbers,
he's one of the greatest living ball players we have.
And he's only in his mid fifties. And you know,
I think people are starting He's always been appreciated. I
don't want to make it sound like he's underrated, but
I think more people are kind of seeing Griffy for
the greatness that he is comes in at eleventh most

(21:02):
graded as a player. Number twelve, the guy I've talked
about at various times, and with my content still young,
still got many years to play, you know, and there's
some you know, even though his stuff's not necessarily severally cheap,
he's going for the three peet this year, and I
think he's the closest thing we're probably going to get

(21:25):
to Tom Brady maybe ever, at least in the recent
future years. Here, that's Patrick Mahomes. And I know he didn't,
you know, didn't make the Pro Bowl this year. I
had a quiet year, but the Chiefs were fourteen to
two and then the number one seed and probably one
of the favorites to win their third straight Super Bowl.

(21:46):
Here we'll see if the Bills or the Ravens can
I like to say the Steelers, but I'm a realist.
See if the Bills or the Ravens can knock him
off the perch, because I think those are the only
two teams that have a shot at the Chiefs. And
if Mahomes wins his third trade Super Bowl, you know,

(22:07):
again his cards are sort of at that ceiling, but
it might break through that ceiling with a three pet
which we haven't seen in many, many, many moons. So
you know, from a selfish perspective, he's another guy. I've
got Mahomes graded cards out in my case, and I've
got Mahomes graded cards that no one sees that they're

(22:28):
not even at the show because I'm just kind of
marinating on him, and because I think he's going to be.
You know, he already is one of the greats, and
I think he's going to add to that legacy each
year through his career and kind of when his playing
career is done. He gott five six, seven rings potentially
obviously Pro Bowls and incredible numbers. So and I know

(22:52):
he didn't make the Pro Bowl this year. He still
had a great year. He just didn't have that Mahomes
year that people got spoiled from him, right the Chiefs. Listen,
everyone can agree the Chiefs aren't fourteen and fourteen to
two without Patrick Mahomes, and you know, just hasn't. He's
still looking for that replacement, I think for Tyreek Hill

(23:14):
and whatnot. But still an incredible quarterback, incredible player, plays
hurt right, plays nicked up, doesn't miss many games. He's
he's the real deal. And I think that's why maybe
I'm a little surprised he isn't higher, but you know,
he's maybe a year or two ago when he was

(23:37):
hired made it made sense. But I have no problem
with seeing him, and you know, I do get a
lot of his stuff coming three through the STC folks up,
so I get it. So there's the list. You know, guys,
I'm surprised I didn't see on this list. Let me

(23:58):
think here, one that comes right to my Paul Skins.
I got a ton of him his cards through my
SGC bolk subs. Just one rookie of the year, you
know at the end of the year. Here surprise he's
not higher. I think the reason is the same reason
I talked about Caitlin Clark. I just think, you know,

(24:20):
he's only you know, he's in his just completed his
first year. He doesn't have as many cards as a
veteran or even a second, third or fourth year player does.
So I think that's why I don't know where he was.
I just went over the top twelve. I don't have
the rest of the list. He's probably right on that cost. Anyway,

(24:42):
I thought he would be a little bit higher on
this list. Gunner Henderson. I know he's not necessarily a
sexy name, but I think he's legit. A lot of
you know, not a rookie anymore, but he's a second
year player. I thought, you know, you see more rookie
yards of him getting graded A guy I absolutely love.

(25:05):
I'm surprised. I think eventually he will be higher on
this list. And that's Bobby Witt junior five tool player.
To me, he's the next it guy, if you will,
And I can make a I can make a case
that he is the guy right now. And you know,
Juan Soto, you know, especially with the new deal, see

(25:28):
how that affects people summon his cards. I don't get
a ton of sodos through the ball. I get some,
but you know, comparatively speaking, I don't get a ton.
So we'll see what the new Mets deal and being
the highest paid player type of deal with show A
does anything. But listen, you know forty home runs a year,

(25:50):
triple digit, Ribby's some steals mixed in there, you know,
great ballplayer. Right, So that's another one that I'm surprised
is not higher on the list. And I'll close with
one more. Zion Williamson. Why isn't this gut now I'm
kidding there, that's called sarcasm. Fully understand why someone like Zion,

(26:15):
who I think could be a good player, just can't
stay healthy and on the court. So but so there's
the top twelve and then I added a few names
and some commentary there. So we'll try to do these
type of lists things every so often and tackle them.
And I definitely wanted to do this, especially when I

(26:36):
can add in some of the stuff I'm seeing on
the front lines of being an STC Bolk submitter. So
there you go, all right, thank you for listening to
another episode of Hobby Quickets. Want to give out our
social media, starting with our website, which is www dot
Sportscarnationpodcast dot com. Facebook. You can follows at www dot

(27:01):
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We are at sportscard nat t one so it's sportscard
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(27:21):
you can email the show Hobby Quick Hits at gmail
dot com. Again, thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.