Nonsense Newsletter No. 152: The MLB's top 50 part deux! Let's Go Bruh! and a little about the World Series!
Welcome to yet another mind-warping edition of the Nonsense Newsletter, where we blow your mind each and every week! Speaking of weeks, this week, John Dudley gives us another installment of the MLB’s Top 50! I, after years of trying to figure it out, have in fact figured out the key to success in the sports card hobby… and I share it with you! And, as usual, the Quick Hits section is top shelf! So, let’s not waste a moment more… I present to you…. the Nonsense Newsletter!
By John Dudley
It’s Part II of the Top 50 MLB Players in the Hobby list for 2024. If you missed 26-50, check them out here. Just a reminder this list is about a player’s current place in the hobby and does not include retired players or prospects who haven’t had a Topps rookie card yet.
25-15
25. Jose Ramirez (27)- Ramirez almost had a 40/40 season and took the Guardians to the ALCS. It’s a shame that he doesn’t get more attention but he’s on a rare quiet path to a first-ballot HOF induction. Unfortunately, it’s hard for those guys to get hobby attention.
24. Julio Rodriguez (8)- It’s a big slide for J.Rod. He’s had three straight years of slow starts, but the MVP-caliber finish never materialized to make collectors forget it. His cards have taken a big hit, but with another slow start likely, he might not have hit his floor.
23. Pete Alonso (14)- Alonso picked it up down the stretch but his path to the HOF is with 500 home runs and he needs to be banking 40 homer seasons to get there. His position on this list is tenuous.
22. Francisco Lindor (36)- Lindor’s position seems safe though. He’s cemented himself as a clear top-tier talent. I think that his position in the hobby has been hurt by not signing autographs in products in recent years much like Mookie Betts until recently.
21. Jackson Holliday (NR)- Holliday had a forgettable season. He’s still one of the top prospects in baseball and it takes a long time for collectors to move on from failed prospects as evidenced by people still taking flyers on Torkelson and Kelenic.
By John McTaggart
Maybe I’m a little late to the party — or maybe way late, I’m not sure.
Either way, after nearly four decades in the sports card business, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that the best way to succeed in this game nowadays is to become some kind of influencer.
They’re always boasting about these huge deals they make, seemingly daily, bragging about “moving” so many cards so quickly, and “flipping… flipping… and more flipping!"
They’re spouting off about comps and values and all kinds of high-end economics phrases.
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, they all seem to be swimming in cash!
Sounds like the way to go, doesn’t it?
Quick Hits
Hobby News- Topps Now continues to amaze with the lottery-style autograph drops. This time it is an on-card dual auto of Bronny and LeBron James that will have fans ordering way too many Topps Now base cards. The base card is pretty cool at least and you can try your luck here.
Vintage- Very cool article on sportcollectorsdaily.com about the World Series teams and a dozen cards that tell the long and storied history between the squads. Check it out here.
Hobby News- In case you missed it, Topps has a nice section of apparel on their website. I get bombarded by ads for knockoff baseball card shirts all the time so it’s nice to have some licensed options. Check out the options here.
The Sports Card Nonsense newsletters reflect the opinions of only the authors and contributors. They are for informational purposes only and are not a recommendation for purchases or of an investment strategy or to buy or sell any assets.