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In the world of baseball card collecting, grading trends reveal more than just market activity—they highlight the players capturing the most attention. Through the first 10 months of 2024, Elly De La Cruz emerged as the undisputed leader among MLB rookies in the total number of graded trading cards, showcasing his immense popularity among collectors.
Trailing close behind were National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and top prospect Jackson Holliday, according to data from Gemrate.com analyzed by Baseball America.
“Elly was the big chase in 2024, and his supply highlights that,” said Gemrate founder Ryan Stuczynski. De La Cruz saw 93,194 cards graded by November 4, making him the most sought-after rookie in the grading market. By comparison, American League MVP Aaron Judge had 75,545 cards graded over the same period.
However, National League MVP Shohei Ohtani set the gold standard. In the first 10 months of 2024 alone, Ohtani had an astonishing 231,783 cards graded, cementing his status as the hobby’s most collectible player.
“Grading activity for Ohtani is unlike anything we’ve seen in the baseball category,” Stuczynski said. Ohtani’s cumulative total of 740,000 graded cards places him second all-time behind only Ken Griffey Jr.. Remarkably, if only 2024’s data were considered, Ohtani would still rank 15th all-time in baseball card grading.
Among the most exciting young players in the game, Jasson Dominguez led Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects in total graded cards for 2024. Dylan Crews and Walker Jenkins rounded out the top three, reflecting growing interest in baseball’s future stars.
The data also underscores the impact of hype on the baseball card market. As new prospects rise and rookies deliver standout performances, collectors flock to their cards, driving grading activity.
The grading data is compiled from the four major grading companies in the card-collecting industry:
Each company’s involvement highlights the wide reach of grading trends across the hobby, reflecting not just player performance but also collector sentiment.
Grading numbers offer valuable insights into player popularity, market demand, and potential investment opportunities. For rookies and prospects, strong grading activity often translates into heightened collector interest and rising card values. Meanwhile, players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge dominate the market with their star power, creating unparalleled activity.
For collectors, understanding grading trends is key to navigating the market, whether you’re chasing rookies like De La Cruz or prospecting on future stars like Dominguez. With data like this, collectors can better predict which players might become the next big hobby icons.
Stay tuned as the baseball card market evolves in 2024, with these players continuing to make waves both on and off the field.
