Are Ronald Acuna Jr Rookie Cards a BUY Or SELL?
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2024
- Ronald Acuna Jr. is the reigning NL MVP and one of the top 2 players in Major League Baseball. With that being said, are his cards a BUY or SELL right now. This is a question that Jeff had on this weeks episode as he debates moving his 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Ronald Acuna Jr PSA 10. The Spitballin' Team also goes over Acuna's other cards and more.
Best Acuna stat from last year…. In 0-2 counts he was 15-39 with a .385 BA, .641 SLG and 1.031 OPS. 🤯
Haha - amazing.
The fact that he cut his K rate in half is just remarkable. I can’t wait to watch his encore!
I think the Witt Update SP “mullet card” should be considered an “iconic” card that is accessible to most collectors. I’m biased but the image is one of the best around.
Chris here - I like that image too! It’s like the Acuna update red/blue jersey sp.
the Witt SSP just hits home for me. Great image.
A pleasure listening to all of you aspiring GOATS...... its remarkable the tolerance of Acuna's greatness the market is currently enduring.. this season he is going off again. Acuna is power and Tony Gwynn all in one.... if Soto had the year Acuna did last year... his base card would be selling in bitcoin. Stick the Sapphire Acuna in the back of your safe. It's a dynamic card.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Chris here - and yeah, I think in the long term, that sapphire card will be absolutely iconic.
ACUNA HAS BATTED OVER .293 1x last year and out of his 6 seasons has only reached over 467 abs 3 out of last 5 seasons GWYNN is a career .338 hitter and hit above .300 every single season of his 20 year career in all but his rookie season DEFINITELY CAN'T COMPARE THEM YET GWYNN IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST PURE MLB HITTERS OF ALL TIME ACUNA JR IS VERY INJURY PRONE
Got a Butler reference in the first 43 seconds on this one…it’s almost impressive
The one later in the show actually said his name, but the first reference took less than a minute 😏
I cannot help myself. I have a one track mind 😉. Thanks for watching!
Scott & his “Rhett” Butler fascination should be “gone with the wind” 😂
😂😂😂
I don’t think anyone referenced the fact that topps holiday has the bat down image. That probably ruined my desire to chase the sp or sapphire of the same print
Chris here - I just don’t care about topps holiday. Like at all. I know that probably sounds a little snobbish, but so be it.
He’s got a 3D bat down card as well, but the reality is that for the most part, those two versions just don’t matter.
Interesting that it hurts the image overall for you. I hadn’t thought about that possibility. Now I will.
Thanks for Watching!
I can't afford anything premium of Acuna Jr, Witt Jr or any active young star player anymore because most cards are overpriced and or slabbed. I do have a raw Acuna Jr Bat Down but I bought that card in 21 at peak unfortunately. Learned a lesson there. Sapphire prices also way too inflated. I do have a lot of sealed 2018 baseball wax at least. I'll stick to my two proven HOF PC guys. Love your content. Think you should do a video on the 2023 Topps Chrome rookie class and its long term potential. A few guys under the radar in it imo
Love 2018 wax! 💪🏼
Chris here - there are a couple big wax collectors on our panel!
Raw bat down sounds good. That card will
Have ups and downs, and should be a fun ride.
@@SpitballinCards Cool. Yeah I think I have about 100 boxes of sealed 2018 product alone between Bowman and Topps. Over 800 boxes overall in my PC from 1980 to present
Seeing the bat down has come down so much
I see that as huge opportunity
I just settle for the holiday version, is still bat down. Same card just added snowflakes ❄️ ❄️❄️ to it lol 😂 and way cheaper price 😎🦾👌
You could be right. It’s only 10% the trout update rookie gem pop…
One angle to possibly consider is if you look at a lot of people in the hobby right now. They collected cards as a kid, got out of the hobby for anywhere between say 10-20 or so years. They get back in and the nostalgia aspect helped pump certain cards they loved and couldn’t afford as a kid or just wanted players they used to love watching. How bad will kids want these when they are older and have money to burn? That will intimately be a key deciding factor.
Good stuff guys as always! I am a Bowman Chrome auto guy but the print run on that sapphire (
Chris here - discussion like we had and comments like these get me so fired up for baseball season and send me off looking for more Acunas!
Thanks for watching!
I enjoy collecting Acuña. Always nice to hear other opinions about his cards.
Chris here and I agree with this 100%
Thanks for watching!!
Another excellent episode. One more factor when comparing the Acuna options is his auto is pretty ugly unfortunately
Chris here - I wish I could argue, but I really can’t…
I absolutely love what you guys do. the insights you give us are greatly appreciated. I'm a beginner, but I always have to watch you guys first.. thnx for sharing your valuable information.. tell Chris I have a triple auto superfractor of Glavine,Smoltz,Maddux.. Topps chrome update 2023.. thnx again gentlemen..
YOU HAVE A WHAT???
Chris here - I roam the comments waiting for remarks like this!
Card sounds amazing! I’d love to see a pic if you’d sent me one on IG.
Congrats!!
Let’s Goooo!! Another episode of Spitballin cards and Phil’s back.
Thanks for watching!
We all need more Philmington in our lives
I love Acuna, but it's crazy to me that his BC Autos are selling for 30-50% more than Mookie's. Potential always carries the day. There was a moment last summer when I was able to snag a 2014 Mookie Betts Bowman Chrome Auto Blue refractor /150 BGS 9.5 w/ 10 auto (and solid subgrades) for $2600 in auction. The Acuna blue is more than 5K in most cases.
Great pickup on the Mookie Blue!
Great show! Would love to have an episode on how players getting inducted to the hall of fame as well as passing away affects their values
I drive a lot for work and always enjoy these episodes in the car.
That’s perfect - you don’t have to look at us that way! 😂😂
@@SpitballinCards lol
💪🏼 Thanks for letting us keep you company!
I completely agree with what Phil said about how the bat down image evokes strong, positive reactions, especially the sapphire version. I think bat up also has an effect, but not quite as pronounced. What a swing…looks like he just crushed the daylights out of a fastball. Those images are without a doubt two of the best in the past 5-10 years, in my opinion. I like them so much that I’m occasionally tempted to pick up another paper update bat up base card with the eye-popping 22k PSA 10 pop count.
Chris here - obviously I love both images as well. Just a raw update for me right now though. And yes, it evokes STRONG positive reactions daily!
The sapphire checks every box in the world for me. Regular Bat down, not so much. It’s fine but no real wow factor for me. And the sapphire is oozing with it 🤷
Sapphire bat down is off the charts wow factor.
I dream about it having on card autos…
Great talk guys. This was nice to hear as someone that's in the market for the Acuna sapphire
Hey man, it’s a special card.
Chris here - it was tough to move mine but since it was going towards another Acuna, I could stomach it.
But I also miss it.
Two stud's ⭐⭐
⚾
Bring on the new season
And more videos from you guys ✌🏻
I can’t wait for both!!
Thanks for watching!
Buy hey Scott,Chris,Jeff,Philmington,and Lance behind the scenes 🔥
Thanks for tuning in!
🍻🍻
Love that sapphire bat down card, but I’ll cast another vote for the Acuna Stadium Club RC for the reasons Chris mentioned. I forked over an arm and a leg for my copy, but when I look at that card, I don’t regret it and may not have had another shot at it. Is it April yet?
Great purchase, John!!
Chris here - and that stadium club is a perfect baseball card.
Acuna is about to be moon walking! Great video again. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Hard to argue! Thanks for tuning in!
Great conversation as always! Acuna is really fun to watch - though I worry he’s going to get hurt again due to his aggressive play style. Almost reminds me of a (football) running back. And then even if he plays great for the next 5 years - he becomes Trout. And Trout’s on most people’s crap list now because he didn’t sustain near that level for 10-12 years. Cards are a tough gig!
Even given all of that I still have quite a few lower end Acunas. My favorites are the Heritage Action and the Archive - 1981 looking card. He also has a few cards where he’s running and has a huge smile - love those. Demonstrates the absolute joy of baseball. Lastly, the TBT 1954 looking card is great and creates a connection to the Aaron rookie. Wish they would’ve given Acuna the orange background.
Keep up the excellent content guys! Much appreciated.
Chris here - I love how that ‘81 design Acuna looks!
I want to see him to be first two time 40/40 player in 2024!
I actually thought we'd make it through an episode without a Billy Butler reference....silly me 😂
WRONGO!
I really wish we had a for sure RC card. I would be nice to have the main single flagship. They print too many sets.
Too many sets 💯
Agreed 💯
I started a PSA 10 RC PC recently and I’ve decided it’s just as satisfying getting the base RCs vs trying to chase SP/SSP/#’d RCs. It’s awesome how cheap the regular flagship rookies are going for right now, even PSA 10s
@@powerlifting4life It's just gotten too confusing.
@@mikehamm007 Chris here - you’re looking for his for sure, top rookie, I can help.
Auto - 2017 bowman chrome
Non-auto - Topps Bat Down (his first
Topps flagship card, no parallels)
That’s what I’d consider his main rookie cards. And yes I know 2017 isn’t technically a rookie, but it would be considered a rookie if it was before 2006.
@@powerlifting4life true,
there are so many printed, if you can be patient, a base rookie psa 10 will never cost more than a retail blaster!
Advanced stats cards have been done for years. They just weren’t numbered. I realized this not long ago when going through some 2014 flagship.
Chris here - I was never a fan of those, but thanks for the info, and thanks for watching!
@@SpitballinCards yeah. Totally agree. They’re my least favorite cards in flagship and across the hobby. It’s comical those are numbered but there’s other cards that are short printed that aren’t numbered.
Its great listening to you EXPERTS. So I can do the exact inverse. When I cash out, its usually average at 16x.
That's the really hard part about ultra modern, it fluctuates so bad. Plus the way the overall market still is, a card being flat is a good thing. 2 of the most iconic cards ever were touched on and show the impact more than anything. The 86 Jordan and the 89 griffey haven't even really plateaud yet and those are probably the best indicators of the overall market health. While focusing on ultra modern is fine, even looking at the market, you have to take it all in to guage properly. Short term will always be a crapshoot. Pop counts is one of those areas that's pretty overblown for ultra modern. Especially with the amount of regrades and crossgrades added in on the rarer stuff. I also see the intense focus on the grade being determental. Especially when most couldn't tell the difference between a 9 and 10 consistently to save their life.
Chris here - all the different parallels, and the over abundance of autos just continues to water down the sets and the values.
The best and rarest stuff should hold up but there ls so much just junk out there. It’s scary.
This is probably the worst time to buy Acuña and Witt. Greatness, HOF, etc. fully priced in. Pops and issues are too many.
The reality: we’ll end up with an Alfonso Soriano, and a Nomar Garciaparra.
Blasphemy!!
Chris here - Soriano never led his league in OBP!
@@ozsportscardcollector2.75 you’re right - there so much prospecting, speculating, hype, and FOMO in the hobby.
Chris here and FOMO still gets me from
Time to time.
But it also creates opportunities. Something hyped and getting all the attention is also causing better buys to go unnoticed!
@@SpitballinCards point taken. but my main point: most great players today will NOT matter in 20 years.
Thanks for the card Phil 🎉
Congrats on the card! It’s a great one to have.
Ronald Acuna Jr 🐐🐐🐐🔥🔥🔥🔥🦾🦾🦾💯💯💯💯👌🚀
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
The 2018 Topps Mini Bat Down has a print run of only 150 cards. Really undervalued in my opinion.
Low print run, but just not a lot of demand for minis. Will that ever change? Maybe?
Acuña is such a good player. And on a good team. That's definitely a recipe for successful card values.
Can’t argue with any of that!
So many big cards that don’t get full value/attention they deserve bc there not serial numbered. I’m a big heritage person and I see it all the time with certain cards. Throw backs. Black borders. Flip stocks etc.
So much in heritage is almost a secret! You have to be in the know to even know what to hunt for. Throwbacks are some amazing cards. Word on those has gotten around!
@@ozsportscardcollector2.75 Chris here - it is a great looking card, awesome image. Just not rare enough to drive the value up.
@@SpitballinCards yes. 100%. I’ve been seeing the rise in popularity in them. Which is extra awesome for me bc of the amount I rip and overall love I have for heritage. Helps brings more attention to other great cards in there as well. There extremely short printed. I’ve heard 10-15 copies of each card.
Doesn’t Topps holiday have the bat down image also?
Yes. And the 3D and Topps Mini. But not sure how much cachet any of those have.
Chris here - yes it does. Topps 3D as well. But I could not care less about those haha.
I’m my kind they don’t count as real cards. Maybe I’m a snob. Maybe I’m an idiot. But they don’t affect my thought process.
Thanks for watching!
Great insights.
Thanks for watching!
@@SpitballinCards
Question: can you explain Acuna Rookies. No card in series 1. Rookie in series 2. The bat down was SP? Another rookie in update? Sapphire rookie is image from Chrome? Is there an easy rank to these? Thx
@@ZiggyNo Chris here - there is no easy rank. Lots of opinions.
Acunas first cards are in 2017 Bowman. That’s where his first bowman chrome autos are, and those will always be his biggest cards.
2018 sets have his rookies.
Topps series 2 has the Bat down card. It’s an SP, and it’s his first topps flagship card. Very popular. No parallels.
Topps update has what collectors refer to as his base rookie - his bat is pointed up. This card has parallels like gold, black, Independence Day, etc. here’s where it gets a little funky - there are also 3 different image variations in Update.
SP called red/blue jersey, not especially rare.
2 different SSP - one vertical and one horizontal, he’s wearing a white uniform in both, and they’re both very rare.
Topps chrome Sapphire is the only chrome
Card that uses the bat down image. It’s limited to less than 300 copies, and visually it’s hard to beat.
Topps chrome has 2 Acuna rookies. One in the base set and another in topps chrome update. Both have parallels. Base chrome has on card autos and update has a sticker auto - so avoid update autos!!
Stadium club has a beautiful short printed Acuna rookie. Very tough to find and much rarer than the autographed version.
There are more of course, but I hope this helped!
@@SpitballinCards I love this break down. Thank you.
This is a baseball challenge. Right? Like NBA and NFL won’t have a rookie only in series 2 and update. Or could they?
Hockey seems to have similar rules like baseball. Is this from the players union participation? NBA and NFL unions only seem to care about money.
Interesting both hockey and baseball have traditionally linger stronger collector bases
Series on
@@SpitballinCardsyou should pin this post about Acuña RCs!
I’ve been enjoying watching/listening, but some constructive feedback:
1. Topics seem to frequently circle around Acuña, Ohtani, and Trout. Scroll through the thumbnail history to see for yourselves. I know there’s a majority ATL representation on the panel, but it’d be nice hearing about a larger variety of players as a main topic point. This is coming from a collector of Acuña (me).
2. I know it’s kind of your wheelhouses, higher value lower pop cards. But what about your average collectors? The discussions maybe come off as elitist sometimes, when the focus comes down to only low pop cards are desirable.
Now to contradict myself a bit…
3. What about non-rookie cards? Rookies are almost 100% of the conversations. My main PCs are Griffey and Acuña. One area of Griffey that interests me is finding rarer inserts. A lot of which are hard to find, or very expensive. I’ve also started taking this approach with my Acuña collection and attempting to find that limited print run inserts that might one day mirror the way Griffey’s rare inserts are valued. Often referred as “case hits” these days. What are some under the radar low print run non-rookies that you guys enjoy? Illustrated examples from 2023, Let’s Go, Hidden Gems, Exposé, and Super Nova.
Good constructive feedback, appreciate the perspective
Maybe one of you guys could touch on this? I think a big mistake TOPPS made was having the same BAT DOWN IMAGE for the 2018 TOPPS HOLIDAY RC AS WELL Definitely would probably confuse some new collectors in the HOBBY when people talk about the "RARE" BAT DOWN ROOKIE CARD
39:14 great point on two years. What do you think college cards are doing now?
The only cards i care about, regardless of price, is Topps base cards.
When you want a Mantle or a Mays, what do you want? A Bowman or Topps base card.
Should be the same for Acuna and Witt.
Doesn't the 2018 topps holiday use the bat down photo also?
Indeed, and 3D On-Demand
And topps mini
Chris here - yes it does. But it’s topps holiday. Does it matter? No, it really doesn’t.
3D uses it too. But that stuff is just too outside the mainstream to really matter.
Just makes you wonder why topps would use the image in a Set like Holiday, but change it for topps chrome?!
I do not like the Bowman Chrome card design at all. The cards are boring, something about the chromium design seems inferior to Topps chrome, the rainbow is insane, and the players look like kids. I almost feel like if you’re collecting those to each their own, I’m not going to assume your reasoning. If you’re investing, you’re investing in the 1st stamp, auto, and hobby’s perception of it being the 1st. The image can be disastrous and it won’t change a thing. There’s something about that I don’t like and I think it may be that I weigh image the most. Also those autos will disappear from those cards in about 30 years. I’d much rather risk losing my a$$ with Acuna’s sapphire. I’d def rather look at the sapphire periodically
Chris here - I like Acunas first bowman auto image - way better than Sotos for example.
Is it better looking than the sapphire? Hell no! Haha.
Topps is so smart. With the exception of some huge cards, like the 52 Mantle, the hobby has always wanted a player’s first card. In part because the first card was the rookie card.
Now there’s a first card AND a rookie card. So we want both.
The first auto is in one set and the rookie autos can be in 20? 30? 50?! With parallel rainbows in each one!
Just too many.
@@SpitballinCards Acunas image isn’t bad but it’s also not an extraordinary image, it’s just a generic snapshot of him running bases. But that’s probably a good thing because there are some BAD bowman 1st images out there and then you add that some of them look 12 on top of that. But I do feel as of late the rainbow has gotten insane with Bowman 1sts. Acuna’s year still had a lot but I don’t recall seeing Fuschia Shimmers or Yellow/orange vapor refractors. Like what is a yellow/orange vapor refractor? And the golds now have Gold mini diamonds, gold shimmers, golds etc. idk. I’m enjoying buying Acuna SSP’s and I’m staying in that lane. Thanks to your channel.
@@Bravetrain13 there’s something great about finding a lane or a niche in the hobby and really loving it!
Will the 2021 Topps Now Acuna 393b hold its value? Are the Now series desirable?
Chris here - I’m not sure what that card is. ToopsNow are fun souvenirs of specific moments but long term value of the cards is tough to predict. Most collectors prefer pack-pulled cards over online exclusives.
The autos and game relics can be very cool but unless it’s something truly special, or something that has meaning for you specifically - I’d avoid ToppsNow, and
I wouldn’t buy any expecting value to increase.
Curious on what y’all think of Julio’s SSP with ichiro. After the hyped died down this card went from $2000-2500 PSA 10 to now like $1500 I saw from a couple sells. Do y’all think hype plays a huge factor and once a new rookie class comes in it kinda slows down previous rookie classes? Do y’all think that card will be a staple in collecting Julio?
Chris here - man, topps just butchered Julio’s rookie cards. From terrible airbrushed images, the chrome SP fiasco, then using the exact same chrome card in two sets - it’s a mess.
However, I’d say his safest long term bets are the update Black parallel and this SSP with Ichiro.
Do I wish the card had Julio facing forward? Yes, I do.
Do I still love it?
Yes.
Just keep an eyes on the PSA 10 pop. If it approaches 100 gems, it could be in trouble.
@@SpitballinCards thanks! Yeah I love the card too and probably won’t ever sell just because I pulled this card from a $25 blaster at Walmart with my girlfriend. It made a for an amazing reaction from both of us and is sentimental in that aspect. I do agree though that Topps really did mess his cards up. I actually like the imagine of his sonic refractor but it’s sonic. And yeah the whole SP with any refractor was ridiculous. May look at a gold /2022 just cause i like to collect most top rookies in those parallels even though it’s not a rare card. Just a very collectible one. I wish paper parallels were like 2018! They were so clean and not just a colored border.
@@tjboyd17 you’re preaching to the choir about those 2018 paralles. The best. Topps gold are very collectible. Lots of history - just try to find one on great condition!
What do y'all think of the flagship gold foils compared to the gold numbered to the year?
Gold number all the way. I don’t think the hold foils have much appeal or staying power.
So I’m guessing all of you think Acuna is a buy right now? I thought you would all give your opinions on that. I’ve been slowly picking up his stuff over the past year (about $6k worth of stuff). I am long term holding though bc I think he is generational
Add together a players lifetime mvp votes and the list will make sense.
That’s a good point. Chris here - some individual years seems insane in hindsight. But then overall vote totals would be a good measure.
Why do you guys like grading bowman 1st autos with BGS?
TOPpS holiday has bat down
It does.
Topps 3D too.
Chris here and those just aren’t sets that really matter too much in grand scheme if things, hobby-wise.
what about acuna his white jersey card wish you guys would of commit about it
Chris here - I think we mentioned the two
Update white jersey ssp, easily two of Acunas best images.
There are definitely more of the white here set csrds than there are black and Independence Day parallels, but those images - especially the vertical - will
Keep the value up and make them always in demand.
Thanks for watching!
sorry I committed before the end of the video I just bought the white jersey that was on ebay couple of weeks ago BGS 9.5 vertical love the card I herd you guys say there was about 300 of that card right @@SpitballinCards
Tell Acuna to avoid anything numbered 14.
Since when is a pop of 100 cards not scarce?
It’s tough but it’s just really not for an modern/ultra modern. There are so many sets these days, so many rookie cards. There’s not enough demand for the supply. So 100 PSA 10’s just doesn’t feel as rare as it used to.
I mean, right now there 5-10 sapphire Acuna 10’s available on eBay. Probably a couple more on myslabs/PWCC/heritage/etc.
Acuna’s stadium club rookie has a gem pop of 20. Much harder to find available.
The Wander Franco remark wasn’t even a comparison. Not supporting Wander but in todays society I’m sure there is certain things built in to contracts that say “ if you sleep with a 13 year old we don’t pay you this money” I love this channel and got here via Scottie B and there could’ve been a better example than that. Example Anthony Rendon getting big money and not producing at all. Just saying …
It was an unplanned topic. I was thinking along the lines of a young former top prospect that got a massive extension but it didn’t work out like people hoped.
@@Philmington I get it, it’s not easy doing what you do and I appreciate the content.
Ok you guys talk about a pop report of 112 like that’s a very large number. There’s 332 million people in America so if we don’t include the entire world, if you have this card in a PSA 10 that’s special. Am I confused? Honest question
Chris here - thanks for watching and commenting. We’re always happy to answer viewer questions.
Think about a topps/bowman chrome gold refractor - all #/50.
So this Sapphire is significantly more common.
If you check the psa website and look up pop reports for high value cards you know about, you’ll see the PSA 10 counts are much lower.
Sure there are 300million+ Americans but unfortunately they don’t all collect baseball cards. If only!
@@SpitballinCards yeah that’s true, thanks for explaining in more detail.