Beckett Sports Card Hot / Cold

[Beckett]

Welcome to another edition Beckett Sports Card Hot/Cold where we take a quick look at what’s hot and what’s not in sports cards and sports.

If this time last week you hadn’t heard of Yermin Mercedes or Akil Baddoo, you would be far from alone. But with a full week of baseball under our belt, the two have been the source of plenty of early-season dramatics.

Through six games, Mercedes racked up 15 hits including a pair of home runs and a MLB-leading .556 batting average. The season is long and the White Sox DH is already 28-years old. But right now it’s sure fun to watch. Collectors will definitely want to take note that the sudden slugger is already 28-years old. Spending huge amounts on long-term speculation should be done with extreme caution.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Mercedes’ 2021 Topps Series 1 70 Years of Baseball Autograph could be found for under $10 (some for less that $5). Now, most are in the $150-$175 range with some topping $200.

For Detroit’s Baddoo, there’s plenty of drama with clutch hits and big home runs. Again, who knows how long Baddoo can keep it up. But he is only 22 and the Tigers’ Rule 5 pick-up is one of those underdog stories that resonates.

As far as sets go, 2020-21 Panini Prizm and 2021 Topps Heritage continue to steamroll through the hobby. Both are perennial favorites that have lasting power. Among this week’s new releases is 2020 Select Football, another chromium offering with plenty of color. Watch out once the Joe Burrow Tiger Stripe parallels drop.

This week’s Hot/Cold is brought to you by Dynasty Breaks.