The modern card market with Yelich as example
 

Yelich is off to an amazing start this year -- he's had a great three weeks LOL. I was checking out his RCs and they literally have tripled over preseason levels. The cards are abundant. I guess I just don't get it?

The modern card market with Yelich as example
 

I make a living doing this and I love it. This is my stock market. I bought Yelich at next to nothing years ago. All comes down to supply vs demand.

Right I guess I just don't understand the huge spike in demand on the basis of a 27 year old having 3 great weeks.

A lot of it has to do with last season. He followed up his MVP campaign with an even better start in his encore season.

Look at Vlad Jr. Kid hasn't played in the Majors and his cards are insanely high.

I think many were waiting to see if he could continue the blistering pace he had the second half of the year, and there were many doubters. Because he came out of the box hot, people saw that as validation, hence the rise. Whether that proves accurate in the long run, who knows. I know I have picked up a number of his cards over the past few weeks at decent prices.

He's been seen as a superstar in waiting for a long time now and has shown flashes of his potential before (2016, for example). Entering his prime years of 27 through 31, probably a good time to sell vs buy but I can understand why there's much more interest in him now.

Speaking of which, what is the card to get for Yelich?

If you want something old school, 2013 Topps Update Yelich. The Black version /62 is going to be the super premium version of that card. People will say it's manufactured scarcity but the black versions of the older, bordered cards look incredible.

The modern Chrome folks-2010 Bowman Chrome autographs for sure.

Thanks...I'm more old school, meaning a normal production run rookie card (i.e. 2011 Topps Update Trout vs. all the uber rare and expensive insert cards).

The gold parallels are the perfect balance of the two. Numbered to the year of the card so they're readily available but difficult to pull, if that makes sense.

I like the Heritage but even those are way over $100 for a 10 now. Yikes.

Wow.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Topps-...gAAOSwHoBcp8bU

What self-respecting guy can own that lol.

no one talks about all the busts that are now commons ,,and you can even give away ,,

I got the standard 2013 Topps Update as part of my MVP rookie collection. Seems to be a solid choice.

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Thanks guys...

Just got this on eBay...climbing steady.

He's on pace to drive in 218 runs
if he does, I'm buying!!!
Bellinger is red red hot too.

PS- Regarding Acuna & Betts...like many other more recent players, there's about 1,890 different rookie cards to choose from :(

If I prefer the more straight forward rookie cards...would that be also Topps Update for these guys? Not looking for fancy signed insert cards.

Looks like Acuna, for instance, has several different Topps Update cards (pink, short print, blue jersey, etc), not to mention all the Heritage version. Enough to make you loose your mind.

Thanks in advance for any insight here.

Update's a good bet for both guys. Acuna has a series 2 short print with a great photo. It was generally one per case so not very easy to pull.

For Acuna--watch out. There are 309530985 variations of the Update card. #US250 is the one you're looking for if you want a standard base rookie.

Acuna's Heritage High Number cards are lookers as well. Nothing to be wary of there, fortunately. Base card has a classic photo, the Action Variation has a great action shot. Can't go wrong with either.

For Betts-Same deal. Update or Heritage High Number. Can't go wrong with either.

my poor aaron judges

Thanks Will! I'll pursue those. Just to be clear...

For Acuna- you mean the 2018 topps update with the photo shot from behind, with "red & blue shirt"? seems like there's multiple #US250 cards (annoying).

For Betts- I assume you mean his 2014 topps update #US26?

Thanks.

I picked up a couple of Bellinger gold updates for that reason. It might not pay, but they were only $3 each or so.

I also like to pick up the Chrome versions of the rookie cards too when I can. Just a nice higher end parallel to the base cards.

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This as I understand it is the "flagship" Acuna. A short print or super short print.

I would get this Betts, much cooler than the Update.

Thanks guys!

Just won this...so on to Acuna now, thanks Peter...then Bellinger next (so many too choose from...which one is the "flagship" rookie?).

Not sure if he's been mentioned but don't sleep on Nolan Arenado either. He's top 10 in the game right now but his rookies are still relatively cheap. Another 2013 Topps Update guy.

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I think like Walker and Helton he suffers from Coors Field stat syndrome and will continue to do so.

I like Altuve -- 1445 hits and still a few days before his 29th birthday. Not a great power hitter, but pretty good power for his position.

I have a couple of Altuves. The 2011 Update Set really does have a nice crop of stars. Goldschmidt is in there, JD Martinez too.

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Still hoping that Machado works out, I bought this super rare one -- 3 9s no 10s how often do you see that for a modern card.

Thanks guys! Fun thread.

Out of all the players, Bellinger seems the most confusing to me...too many rookie cards to choose from. Wish it was more stripped down like years ago. Does he have a base Topps update?

I picked up this Heritage which is nice and cheap.

I didn't like the Update -- odd pose -- so got this one. I know, Beckett, thumbs down, but it was a couple of years ago lol who knew.

Great cards, Peter - that Machado is really slick. I just went with his 2013 Topps and Topps Chrome cards. I have the Altuve Update and Bowman Chrome cards. The Update is a very odd card indeed. Sort of like a Twister game being played vertically.

I love buying modern rookie cards for my collection. I try and buy a few current players every year...So far this year I've picked up some players I like - Francisco Lindor, Rhys Hoskins, Carlos Correa, Javier Baez, Jose Ramirez, Jose Berrios. Vintage is my true love but there's always a place for a few modern cards for me.

Man, starting late last year Ramirez has taken a huge dive. At one point I thought he might be the best young player out there.

He's been absolutely brutal this year. I haven't really seen him play much but looking at his stats seems like he's gotten a lot less selective and making a ton of weak contact.

He was worthless the last month of last year and is starting in the same way this year, hitting well under .200.

Machado and Harper haven't been lighting it up either after a month but not nearly as anemic as Ramirez.

Here are a few recent pickups. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d6a10f00a5.jpg

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I think he has a few Update cards, but the "proper" card being US50. That card has a standard pic and an SP (where he is crossing home plate and giving high fives).

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Thanks...but what makes no sense is there's multiple cards (poses) with the same "US50" card number. Bizarre, annoying.

Yeah I looked at them, basically said WTF and switched to Heritage which is a nice card.

It's annoying for sure, but I guess it keeps the breakers happy. Somehow I ended up with three Bellinger rookies. Update, Update alternate photo and Chrome. Absurd.

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If you're actually opening those packs/boxes and you hit one of those, it's far from annoying. The odds aren't super tough but when it's 1:box and you hit the big rookie, it's a darn good feeling!

I like the image variation cards, although some images are much much better than others. I think the variation cards (SP/SSP) could continue to be very desirable as time goes on.
Mookie's 2014 Update RC has this variation:

Being that several of them share the same number, which is considered his "A" rookie, versus alternate image? Again, a little annoying.

The regular image (batting) I think will be the standard A one, and the alternate will be a gimmicky curiosity but one that's worth more $$. I usually don't bother with alternates (I usually just get standard and chrome) but happened to win the alternate and wasn't expecting to. I agree with an earlier post that alternates are fun to win in breaks, but annoying in the secondary market!

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Got it, thanks.

I need to get one asap, he's killing it.

Yes Bellinger is killing it. I had purchased an unopened case of 2017 Topps Chrome Jumbo's. Which has Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Andrew Benintendi, Andrew Bergman Rookies. Nice class but almost all the Bellinger's are Redemption cards.. That Expire at the end of this Month May 2019. I paid close to wholesale and can make a few bucks selling the case but not what I wanted. I wish Topps would figure out a way to extend the redemptions at least 10 years, if not more. Makes putting away unopened tough.
My Son says we should break it and that may be what happens.

Just got this...

Nice one! Get your Rhys Hoskins next before the word gets out. ;)

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