⚾Risers, Releases and Replies⚾
Pre-rookie cards are good! Rookie cards are awesome!
Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has several sports cards and a tasteless stick of gum, delivered weekly!
All sports card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com. Also, the links in this newsletter are affiliate links with eBay, which means we will make a commission on any purchases off those links.
This is the free version of the “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter, with the paid version coming again next week. They rotate each week.
⚾3 PROSPECT CARDS ON THE RISE, with CHRIS CLEGG
I asked Chris Clegg of The Dynasty Dugout Substack Newsletter to write a segment on young prospects card collectors should consider. This fella writes about dynasty Fantasy Baseball leagues, which means he has the pulse of the deeper prospects with promise.
Jefferson Rojas, SS, Chicago Cubs
If you are looking for the next card to invest in, I would look no further than Cubs’ Jefferson Rojas. Turning 19 years old at the end of April, Rojas began the season in High-A, where he has hit extremely well despite playing in pitcher-friendly environments, especially early in the year in the Midwest League.
The power numbers are not jumping off the page right as Rojas has just two home runs and 11 extra-base hits in 50 games, but the underlying exit velocity data is good and already much bigger than his 5’11”/150 frame, with people in the Cubs org telling me he is up to over 190 pounds and 6’0”. The power will come.
The contact skills also look particularly strong. Having an overall contact rate of 82 percent and an in-zone clip north of 90 percent, I would grade his hit tool as plus or maybe better if those numbers stick at higher levels.
While the autograph on the card is not the prettiest thing, Rojas is still a strong buy for the card community.
2023 1st Bowman Chrome Jefferson Rojas BCP-70 - $2 on eBay!
Yoeilin Cespedes, SS, Boston Red Sox
Yoeilin Cespedes is a buzzy name, but there is still probably time to get in on him before his stock really takes off. Cespedes was the big-name signing for the Red Sox in the 2023 international signing period, landing a $1.4 million bonus. Despite having a smaller frame, Cespedes hits the ball hard and generates easy power, collecting six home runs and 25 extra-base hits in 26 Dominican Summer League games in 2023.
The power comes naturally, as Cespedes posted a 101 mph 90th percentile exit velocity in 2023, which is quite an impressive mark for a 17-year-old who also saw a max of 107 mph. It showed in person as well when I saw him this spring as he hit some majestic home runs, which is impressive considering he did not turn 18 until September. He is already filled out, but it would not be uncommon to see him grow an inch or two, given his age.
His start at the complex has been stellar and I would not be surprised if he is in Single-A Salem before long. Through 20 games, Cespedes has four home runs, and 13 extra base hits with a .315/.393/.616 slash line. He is striking out in just 15.5 percent of plate appearances and showing a good feel for pitch recognition as well.
2024 1st Bowman Chrome Yoeilin Cespedes BCP-139 - $2 on eBay!
Aidan Smith, OF, Seattle Mariners
The deep buy whose cards I would be snatching up everywhere is Aidan Smith of the Mariners. The 2023 fourth-round pick is a bit overshadowed in a deeper Mariners system, but he can hit. I labeled Smith as my Roman Anthony breakout call of 2024 as his prep data was off the charts and signaled he was being a bit undervalued.
So far, so good for Smith in Single-A, who has good underlying data and has six home runs and 20 extra-base hits in his first 49 games. The slash line of .257/.373/.433 won’t wow you, but Smith is making good contact and showing solid exit velocities while having a very low chase rate.
Like Roman Anthony, who did not blossom until High-A, Smith may take a little time before he explodes. But I believe that the upside is there. Given the cost of his Bowman Autos, I would scoop them up everywhere.
2024 1st Bowman Chrome Aidan Smith BCP-45 - $3 on eBay!
Chris has been writing about baseball and covering the Minor Leagues since 2019 on various sites, such as FantasyPros, PitcherList, and Fantrax, before launching his own website, The Dynasty Dugout in 2023. He covers minor-league ball nationally, but he gets live looks at players across the southeast. You can also find him on X @RotoClegg. His Substack is a must-subscribe.
⚾HOBBY NEWS: 2024 TOPPS SERIES 2 BASEBALL!
The biggest hobby news this week – and probably from the past month or so -- is the release of 2024 Topps Series 2 Baseball! I posted two videos on these cards in the past week – that means it’s really big news!
One of the videos was a 2024 Topps Series 2 hobby box break I did Tuesday. But the other video (below) is based on ranking the Top 11 Best Rookies For 2024 Topps Series 2 Baseball Cards.
🏈🏒Remembering the Best Rookie Cards From 1993 in Each Sport⚾🏀
In 1993, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls three-peated and Shaq broke two backboards, “Jurassic Park” ruled the silver screen, Frasier Crane finished his beer at “Cheers” and moved to Seattle for “Frasier,” and the Toronto Blue Jays won their second World Series before baseball went on strike the next year. Here are your top sports rookie cards from 1993!
Baseball:
Derek Jeter (HOF) – Topps 98 – View on eBay!
Jason Kendall – Topps 334 – View on eBay!
Derek Jeter – SP 279 – View on eBay!
Jim Edmonds – Topps 799 – View on eBay!
Mike Piazza (HOF) /Carlos Delgado (multi-RC) – Topps 701 – View on eBay!
Todd Helton (HOF Class of 2024!) – Topps Traded 19T – View on eBay!
Basketball:
Chris Webber (No. 1 Pick, ROY, HOF) No. 224 – View on eBay!
Anfernee Hardaway No. 334 – View on eBay!
Tony Kukoc No. 316 – View on eBay!
Football:
Drew Bledsoe No. 130 – View on eBay!
Jerome Bettis (HOF) No. 166 – View on eBay!
John Lynch (HOF) (Multi-RC) No. 230 – View on eBay!
Michael Strahan (HOF) (Multi-RC) No. 275 – View on eBay!
Willie Roaf (HOF) No. 441 – View on eBay!
Hockey:
Chris Osgood Upper Deck 519 – View on eBay!
⚾HAPPY HOBBY UNIVERSE UPDATES
This is where we share some of the interesting things that have happened with our Happy Hobby universe in the past couple weeks, from our YouTube channel to the podcast, from the website to the newsletter, and from all our social channels!
Here’s an email I got this week, that I thought I’d share with everyone, to see if there are some ideas on how to help this fellow out!
Hello David,
I have a friend who has a 3-ring binder full of 1953 Topps. They have been in the pages for many years. Is there a safe way to remove them without causing much damage? Also, what would your recommendation be for storing them, if they are removed from the binder? Or should they be left alone?
Thanks for your help, Tim
My suggestion, Tim, is to buy your friend a box of 1989 Topps Baseball cards and offer him a 1-for-1 swapsy and see if he goes for it! Haha! Seriously, though, that sounds like an awesome binder of cards! While the 1953 Topps Baseball set isn’t stocked with great rookies (Jim Gilliam and Johnny Podres?), there are tons of awesome legends, like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, and Satchel Paige (the only Topps card of the Negro League superstar!).
Since we’re talking about a collection that’s possibly worth five or six figures, I would reach out to some professionals, like the guys at Got Baseball Cards, just outside of Atlanta, or Burbank Sports Cards in Southern California.
Major card companies like that come across collections like this all the time, in these conditions, so they would be able to not only help you understand how to save those cards, but they’d also give you a great idea of their condition/value.
Keep us posted on what happens!
⚾HAPPY HOBBY POLL
Consider becoming a paid subscriber for $6 per month, or $60 per year (20% discount from monthly!). Get into the “Paid Sub” group early and get to know the other subscribers in the chat! As a group, we’ll work to help you improve your collection on a limited budget!
Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter!
Have a Happy Hobby!
Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!
The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!
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Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com
Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)
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Great job as always. Now I am looking up Aidan Smith cards, thanks to Chris for the recommendation. I am really curious how those 1953 cards will come out of the binder sleeves, I hope they don't stick too bad. Also, if anyone wants 10 cards for $1000, let me know, happy to help.
Well done, enjoyed it. Thanks Chris for introducing me to a couple guys to put on the radar.
Ah, ‘93.. probably about the peak of my younger collecting days. Thanks for sharing!