Game 7: Satchell Paige, Derek Jeter, Jackson Holliday, Michael Harris II, Tyler Soderstrom
Game 7: Satchell Paige, Derek Jeter, Jackson Holliday, Michael Harris II, Tyler Soderstrom
Weekly Roundup 5/29/23-6/4/23
Trivia Question of the Week
How old was Satchel Paige in his final MLB game?
The Roundup
As we wrote last week, the owner of a Cincinatti hobby shop found the Druw Jones Superfractor Auto. As a quick refresher, Dave and Adam’s offered $250,000 to the person who finds the Jones card. However, if the lucky “winner” wanted to keep the card, Dave and Adam’s offered $1 million if Druw Jones makes the Hall of Fame. Unsurprisingly the hobby shop owner took the $250,000 offered by Dave and Adam’s.
Should he have held onto the card? I did a quick calculation – to be eligible for The Hall, a player must play for at least 10 years and wait five years before he can be on the ballot. Let’s assume Druw Jones spends three years in the minors. The value of $250,000 in 18 years at a 7% average growth rate is around $878,000. Considering only about 1% of MLB players make the Hall of Fame, I’d say they made the right choice.
Sales: Satchell Paige, Derek Jeter
1949 Bowman Satchel Paige, PSA 5.5
A 1949 Bowman Satchel Paige #224 graded PSA 5.5 set an all-time high for that grade, selling for $7,020.00.
1993 Upper Deck SP #279 Derek Jeter Rookie Card SGC 10
This 1993 Upper Deck SP #279 Derek Jeter Rookie Card SGC 10 sold for $50,520. A PSA 10 of this card sold for $204,000. However, a PSA 9 sells for a relatively measly $6,000. If the buyer tries to cross this card over to PSA, he’s either in for a massive return or a brutal loss (though we’re guessing he’d choose not to cross over for anything less than a PSA 10).
New Releases
Topps is releasing the Series 2 version of its flagship MLB product on June 7th.
Series 2 adds an additional 329 cards to the series and adds new rookies such as Jordan Walker and Anthony Volpe.
The Hobby Box includes one autograph or relic card while the Jumbo Hobby Box guarantees 1 autograph or relic card, two Silver Packs, one Hobby Exclusive Manufactured item card, and one boxloader. The Silver Packs contain exclusive chrome cards that are not available anywhere else.
The Hobby Box is on presale for $94.95 while the Jumbo is $204.95.
Trending Up, Trending Down
Trending Up: Jackson Holliday [+29.02%]
Jackson Holliday, the 19 year old out of Stillwater, OK, has been gaining plenty of buzz for a while as MLB.com’s #3 prospect despite his young age. Holliday is legitimizing that buzz this year with an outstanding slash line of .358/.483/.606 bolstered by 18 extra base hits, 6 HR, and 13 SB in 45 games this season in the minors.
Jackson also happens to be the son of former major league and 7 time all star Matt Holiday. As of now, a 1999 Bowman Chrome Matt Holliday Rookie Card is selling for ~$200. Jackson’s 2022 1st Bowman is going for about $160. It will be interesting to see how those two cards appreciate over time.
Also of note, our Prospect of the Week in Game 5, Elly De La Cruz, is the #2 trending prospect, up 29.02% in the last 30 days.
Trending down: Michael Harris II [-30.78%]
Michael Harris II, the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year with the Atlanta Braves, has had similar struggles to his American League 2022 ROY peer, Julio. As a result, Michael Harris II’s cards are down 30.78% over the last 30 days.
Through 26 games in 2023, Harris II is batting a brutal .172. Since we wrote about Julio in Game 5, he has hit .364 with 3 HR. Maybe we can similarly light a fire under Harris in the hopes that he returns to his 2022 form.
Trend data sourced from https://www.alt.xyz/company
Prospect of the Week: Tyler Soderstrom
1B/C, Oakland Athletics
So far in 2023, the Oakland A’s are off to one of the worst starts in MLB history, sitting at 12-49. In honor of their struggle, this week’s prospect is the Top A’s Prospect, Tyler Soderstrom. Tyler signed with the A’s for a whopping $3.3 million in the 2020 draft where he was selected 26th overall.
So far in his minor league career Soderstrom has hit for a decent .274/.336/.523, however 2023 has been off to a slow start in AAA hitting .255/.304/.532. The left handed hitter’s highest prospect grade is a 60 for his power, and has come on fairly strong in that department, hitting 12 HR through 46 games this year.
Soderstrom, like Holliday above is also of MLB lineage and is the son of former San Francisco Giants pitcher Steve Soderstrom. The elder Soderstrom only lasted 10 days in the big leagues. Hopefully Tyler finds a longer stay.
Scouting grades:
Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 55
Trivia Answer of the Week
Paige was 59 years-old. In 1965, the Kansas City A's brought Paige back for one last appearance. He pitched three scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox, giving up one hit to fellow Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.