Warning-These Are The Worst Baseball Cards To Invest In

Pitchers are a pivitol part of baseball and can generally impact a game more than a hitter can, but for multiple reasons they do not carry value in the hobby. Baseball cards are a fun pastime, and for some a fun investment, In this video I break down why pitchers are the worst baseball card investment and if there are any modern day pitchers that we should target.

[@rockiesinoctober]

I wish pitchers held more value in the hobby. They're so vital to a team's success.

[@stephenbronson]

I grew up collecting Mike Mussina. Now that he is in the hall of fame and I have hundreds of his cards they are still pretty much worthless. But now I can get cards I didn't have as a kid, like his 93 Finest Refractor without breaking the bank

[@duanetomka6559]

And Mussina was a GREAT pitcher! I collect Maddux...was a big Braves fan back then

[@baseballcardcurmudgeon]

Good stuff. Now we can look back and see how good pitchers like Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, Ryan, etc., really were. They are worth collecting…the true greats.

[@DingleberryStudios69]

that 1968 Nolan Ryan is looking mighty fine right now

[@garypickul2648]

Verlander,Kershaw, and sherzer are locks. Cole still has some work to do.

[@scottiebcards2354]

I agree. I also think Greinke is a lock. Outside of those players, there aren't many options.

[@codymac4474]

I miss Roy Holiday😢

[@danielginsburg9558]

Halladay? Not to be confused with Matt Holliday.

[@codymac4474]

@@danielginsburg9558 I was just thinking about pictures. I was thinking about Roy Holiday from the Toronto Blue Jays.

[@TtoTheRock]

Paul Skenes might be the best choice for a young stud pitcher, but its hard to rely on these hard throwers to stay healthy for long. Honestly I feel like post-season performance for pitchers should hold more water in terms of HOF analysis.

[@bobegan2121]

Yes and already has had issues

[@larrydavidcs]

paul skenes is part of the current hobby problem. he comes up has 2 good games and his 1st bowman autos are going for insane prices. 1 TJ surgery and youve got a dust bin of garbage. Why even risk it ? Situations like Acuna are WAY rarer

[@NinjaSquirrel30]

Roll on the new season!!! ⚾ 💥 💯 And the content to flow till end of year we appreciate you & Spitballing Cards show 👍

[@sw1217]

Thanks for breaking down your thoughts. Chicks dig the long ball and we want the ladies 🤣 I mean Gibson, Sutton, Palmer, and Carlton are all vastly underpriced relative to their hitting peers of the day.

[@dsphillips16]

Pitchers in MLB today are what running backs are to the NFL.

[@JonGeandreau-kg1kj]

That is a great comparison.

[@mickey-eq5vw]

yep just work horses who get burnt out and used

[@josephm8078]

Unless you are a fan koufax ryan carlton seaver kershaw schill mussina are all fun to collect. Cheers

[@dkkongiob]

This is pretty accurate except that pitchers got paid very well. Gerrit Cole. Yamamoto didn't throw a single pitch in the MLB but got himself a 12 year, $325M contract. However, he's also only 25 years old so he can be considered a very special exception. I could mention Ohtani, but that guy has elite hitting skills and is a unicorn when it comes to talent and marketability. I do think that long term for big money deals for pitchers will no longer be the norm though with all these injuries popping up.

[@markthompson7503]

so true....used and abused then replaced.

[@forzendikar9908]

Great topic Scotty. Just came back to the hobby last year, how the landscape has changed lol. You are correct, pitchers not viewed the same as back in the day. I also agree with your future forecast for mlb pitchers.

[@johnconnelly9950]

Great video as always Scottie Thank You

[@andygrow3951]

Scott love your videos and Spittballin cards. Keep the videos coming !!!

[@RatedRookie]

One of your best breakdowns…and that’s saying a lot!

[@joerussell9574]

I hope DeGrom bounces back. I pulled a case hit auto out of /150 of him from 2019 Topps Archive and he has such a nice on card auto. Really takes his time it seems like when signing, my favorite auto in my collection.

[@dkkongiob]

Rooting for deGrom as well. Hope he kills it for the Rangers.

[@muckster_84]

Nice man…was that the Topps Magazine throwback card? I pulled the Griffey, Jr. of that #/35. Love that card like you love your DeGrom.

[@joerussell9574]

@@muckster_84 Yes it was!! Damn nice pull on You're Griffey Jr. by the way!!!!

[@MattHouston91]

legend. Keep putting out the great content, thanks Scottie!

[@JackM-re7jk]

Great video. Luis Castillo is one of my main PCs, love collecting him

[@kotch35]

Excellent video. Thanks for clearly articulating what everyone in the hobby is feeling but doesn't know how to express.

[@OpinionatedFanboy]

Honestly I can't see investing in an pitcher for the foreseeable future. Kids are using their arms way too much in their youth. The issue isn't talent, it will just be durability that keeps us from getting HOF pitchers in the future.

[@dkkongiob]

Sweeper pitch is the new hotness too and we've seen how sliders and splitters can mess up arms if abused frequently.

[@JohnMiller-jj9kx]

Good stuff again Scottie. Who will be the best pitchers this year? A starter, middleman, setup man, and closer for each league?

[@GianniRips]

Scott, I just bought a Mookie betts “members only” card from 2022 stadium club. Can you tell me anything about it?

[@coltermenke1067]

Nola is underrated. He's on the same fWAR trajectory as Cole and Scherzer and may be with the same team for his whole career.

[@mickey-eq5vw]

he gets off to slow starts but makes up for it late in the season and is a great post season pitcher

[@CrazyCubsfan11]

What software/website are you using to see the highest value a card has sold for?

[@chadrboucher]

Brayan Bello for the Red Sox...young guy and showed great stuff last year. No one talks about him either.

[@ZiggyNo]

Great video

[@scottdieckhaus8635]

Great video. A pitcher that I didn’t realize may quietly be putting together a HOF-worthy career until I looked at the numbers is Zack Wheeler.

[@mickey-eq5vw]

agree he's solid reminds me of tom glavin a little not super flashy but you can count on him

[@Blabbin_Bout_Slabbin]

He’s definitely getting better as he ages, too.

[@iconic_baseball]

Great breakdown Scottie 👏 I couldn’t agree more. I call it the pitching ‘cliff’… after Verlander, Scherzer, Kershaw and Grienke… nothing. Guys just aren’t staying healthy. Even when they are, they aren’t throwing enough innings to win games and compile career numbers. I like the comparison to running backs in football. After the group of future HOF veterans I mentioned, pitchers just may be uninvestable for the forseeable future 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Paratroopin]

I have a 2012 Mike Trout Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor #1/25... I want to have it graded and was hoping someone could tell me what they think it's worth. Thank you!

[@EChino92]

Already taking an L if you’re on the fence on investing ultra modern pitchers.

[@joedill4311]

I think as far as "young" pitchers with HOF potential.....we are limited to Gallen, Webb and Strider. It's too soon. To say on anyone else. I agree that Cole has put up great numbers over a fair period of time, but I believe he has tonfinish hard to make it. If a player with 5 outstanding seasons start to make it, we need to think about some former "short term" greats that aren't in yet first. Just my opinion.

[@Bryan45552]

There was a good discussion on Foul Territory about there not being any true "Pitchers" as in players who might not light up the radar gun, but paint corners, have impeccable command and everything moves. As a Brewers fan, I watch Wade Miley and see that type of pitcher be successful for a 10 year plus career. Until front offices adjust, it's going to be more of the same of these weird situations where there's pitchers who are dominant for a few years but fall of a cliff, or have 3 tommy john surgeries.

[@dkkongiob]

Greinke would also be a good example.

[@sliven21]

How do you feel about Kyle Harrison?

[@invaderj815]

If W.A.R was so great then why did everybody miss on Randy Arozarena while falling in love with Kyle Lewis I even recall Fuzzy calling RA a throw-in player during the trade and didn't expect much from him. WAR is a trash stat and only the brainless Think it's a valid way to judge a player. But whatever I made bank on RA rookies thanks for tossing him to the side like that

[@TenaciousAC]

Scary to think the last modern era pitchers inducted into the Hall of Fame were all in 2019 : Rivera, Mussina & Halladay. And who knows when the next one will be ? Sabathia after 2025 ? Then maybe none until 5 years after the current Super Four (Verlander, Scherzer, Kershaw and Greinke) retire…. 😯

[@user-tl7mj2bm4m]

Per Geoff Wilson, Will Grier IS the way to go.......not a pitcher....but based on your TOPIC.......enough said.

[@markthompson7503]

Love my Burnes PC....

[@nickpatys4894]

You should do a Stathead Versus Finder on Kershaw vs Pedro. Closer than you think

[@n0lanv0id]

I only buy pitchers I love, purely for my personal collection.

[@nunzi83]

One of the biggest pitchers cards that flopped like crazy was Matt Harvey

[@dkkongiob]

...Yeah I bought a Noah Syndergaard autographed card for $18 on eBay a few years ago and that has aged poorly. Who would have thought that from that amazing Mets' rotation, Wheeler would be the one with the best career (not counting deGrom obviously)?!

[@tdsportscards]

Cole yes...Nola is a sleeper, he's been consistent...Luzardo, Alacantara, Webb, and quite a few others need more time...a lot of possibilities from 2017-present but need time and stats...Kluber once dominated for 4-5 years then fell off, he's 37 yrs old so no chance most likely...Beiber is still in play though

[@OolongForSomeTea]

George Kirby is that guy for me. 0.9 BB9 is not normal. It might be for him though, we shall see.

[@Brand-ju4jm]

Pulled an aqua to 199 rookie of his recently hope he is that guy

[@nickrandles1102]

I collect pitchers and my Doug Drabek and Bob Tewksbury autos are worth a solid 3 bucks combined and I'm content with that.

[@mickey-eq5vw]

Zach Wheeler been holding up strong, Gerrit Cole and I like christian javier but ya cant go wrong collecting kershaw, scherzer n verlander in the meantime

[@outwest100az]

Zack has 87 wins and I doubt the hall will be a callin and is already 33. Not happening

[@grayharris672]

I have a skeens auto I got out of bowman and an Andrew painter 1/1 gold vinyl. But pitcher are a hard investment

[@larrydavidcs]

sell them both and buy a bobby witt jr long term hold.

[@4HoopsAndHomers]

I think Zac Gallen can quietly put together a HOF career. Verlander, Scherzer, and Kershaw are locks for sure!

[@69mankini]

Reid Detmers can be really good. Reid Detmers can S the bed. If he could be consistently good he would be on collector's radar.

[@davidevensende]

What state di you hail from?

[@hamm_bone_hobbies1302]

I remember buying autos of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood back in the day.........😢😢

[@zikik8194]

Cole will be a HOF

[@nathanakers45]

He may be the last one the writers vote in for a long time

[@zikik8194]

@@nathanakers45 probably

[@jasonhipkins]

Remember when the National held Strasburg back from the playoffs because of inning count? No team should do that. Let them pitch because a lot of them get injuries anyway

[@B0bDylAnFan82]

Nolan Ryan is really the only pitcher whose cards demand a premium when compared to legendary hitters. All time greats like Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Steve Carlton ect are undervalued.

[@kenscardboard]

I like the chance of Zach Wheeler, Corbin Burns, Spencer Strider, and Shohei Ohtani to make a good run for the HoF. Not sure that they are a good investment or that any piece of cardboard is a good investment.

[@simon466cards]

Verlander being on some of those “Top Pitchers Since ____” lists is wild given his age

[@scottiebcards2354]

Shows how good he is consistently! He has had a lot of his best seasons in the 2010s.

[@AlanForest]

Fortunately a pitcher that was and will be my favorite that I collected and enjoyed watching play growing up Felix Hernandez turned out to be a great pitcher throughout his career as far as modern pitchers yeah definitely a hard pass

[@georgeriley4818]

Ohtani is a pitcher today that's Hall of Fame bound

[@69mankini]

On his pitching alone he would never make the hall.

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

Was.

[@bangers_sportscards]

Pitchers increased chances to getting hurt is directly related to a pitch clock and increased velocity. I know people love the pitch clock, but it’s wrecking these dudes arms

[@TenaciousAC]

Aaron Nola. Only 1422 IP as he enters his Age-31 season. Hopefully with the new contract and a healthy body, he has the start to push towards a HOF-worthy finish.

[@db6341]

With longevity becoming more and more rare, maybe guys like Wainwright, Jansen, Kimbrel end up getting in, maybe even deGrom.

[@mozme_UP]

Need to add Dustin May on that pitchers list.

[@joeybanks961]

I was a big fan of Eury perez. They need to give him more inning.

[@CoolAsCards]

This is why HOF pitchers should comand a premium.. Greg Maddux , Randy Johnson to name a few from my era. way undervauled.

[@sunny8784]

look how things has transitioned...we went from pitchers averaging 70-80 mph, then whoever pitched 90+ was a rockstar, now 100+ is the norm. without roids, this is impossible to maintain.

[@Huanger007]

Love the videos but is there a reason why you decided to cherry pick the WAR values from 2013 since they show Scherzer with a higher WAR than Kershaw? Kershaw has a higher WAR over his career and especially from the 2008-2012 seasons (obviously both were starting out). And then there is the thumbnail which screams of the crying Kershaw meme the Padres tried to use last year. I understand the Dodger hate since you are a long suffering Rockies fan so just curious if there was any bias at play. 😁

[@scottiebcards2354]

Hey! I only used war since 2013 since it was ten years ago. No Kershaw slander from me. As a Rockies fan I can only respect him 😁

[@danaguilar4519]

Long term "investment"? No modern players are worth it IMO. Invest in real estate, business, stocks. I'll go full contrarian though...short term I've had a great time dumpster diving for short term double up/triple ups the last 5-6 years tbh. You need to buy at the lowest of lows and ready to move on as soon as they flash. The general idea "No pitchers, theyre a horrible buy" helps a lot. Think $20-$50 gold refractor autos that quickly move to $40-$120. Not Paul Skenes or Eury Perez. I got back into cards in 2017 and first targeted Aaron Nola and Blake Snell, did very well with them over the course of a year, then pivoted to Bieber/Flaherty and a few others in 18/19. Then had some luck with Burnes and Webb after that, etc..Not all will pay off but the ones that don't can't be thrown back in the ocean for a small loss or break even if you're buying cheap enough...it ain't for everyone but isn't rocket science to make short term gains.

[@mattingly234ever]

invest in a CC Sabathia 1999 traded auto...if you can find one

[@davidlapointe7446]

I think g cole gets in if he can win 35 + more games w an around 3.25 ish era. They r going to have to vote someone in after the big 4 of Kershaw Verlander greinke and scherzer

[@BluebearThunder]

I have a hard time taking advice from a guy in a Rockies hat. 😂

[@fliplife67]

Paul S. prices already looks high.

[@IsaidQUIETnHERE]

lowering the bar for HOF will be the new norm for pitchers*

[@williewoodall8305]

It's the pitch timer..

[@Sir_Osis]

Still holding out on Brendan McKay 🤞😂

[@johnmccarthy9165]

Eventually, Andrew Painter. He still only a 20 year old. After he fully recovered from TJ.

[@williewoodall8305]

I believe that the influx of the"Asian Invasion"..Will bring a Renaissance of the "hurlers"..

[@user-ul6ev6rv9x]

Haha matt harvey. I'm a met fan

[@Krysdavar]

2 Phillies representing in top 5 WAR since 2018. 😀

[@andrewb8017]

No way I would pay up for a pitcher’s cards. Maybe if one comes along that can consistently make it past the 6th inning I would think about it

[@user-qb6vi4cv2c]

Why would I collect a ball player that I don’t like.

[@williambartenslager4134]

Tarik Skubal.

[@GeMintsports]

Roki Sasaki 2020 BBM!

[@cryztalwing]

i think only cards made from the 1950's and Earley are worth investing in.

[@kennethsalter9998]

Maybe in some circumstances Pitchers are being babied ....If you don't use ....You lose it!!! Seems they're being enabled sometimes ? Im pretty sure old school pitchers didn't have a team of Doctors ! Those pitchers didn't rely on others to make them healthy ! They created a method that worked for them , stayed aware of their body and took responsibility ! Of corse not all pitchers -I'm try to be careful to generalize !!

[@benspringer8783]

I agree pitchers and catchers are not good

[@sharablecortex2725]

Pitchers is by far my favorite position ....

[@jvbaseballcards]

Hopefully the paradigm shift happens soon. I've watched Jacob deGrom since he debuted and can't fathom the idea of him being excluded from the HOF.

[@mickey-eq5vw]

he gets injured way to much

[@ceejcollections716]

Efff the rockies

[@richfrank1255]

1st rule in prospecting, no pitchers or catchers.

[@ThatBaseballGuy13]

After upload Strider & Perez getting Tommy John. Sad

[@forpetesake20]

SENGAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rhocke4590]

Chicks dig the long ball.

[@chrisc4264]

Don't you invest in Zack Greinke? I thought he was a pitcher last I checked. Yeah only pitchers I buy are Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax occasionally when I find a deal on them. Those are my two favorite pitchers. Today's pitchers are babied and have poor mechanics and dont build up their legs to take pressure off their arms.

[@williewoodall8305]

You better hope the NPB doesn't see this..

[@sienastang]

Add Luis Severino to the list. Total disappointment

[@forpetesake20]

we had thor, Harvey and degrom on the mets and all of their cards were almost to the moon and then...

[@dkkongiob]

Bought a Thor Topps five star auto card on eBay for like $18 on eBay back in 2019. :|

[@timsfgiantsmem9382]

They should just take pitcher out of the game. Use ball machines

[@ClownTown15000]

Allegations are when you've been accused but guilt has not yet been determined. Jose Canseco did not have steroid allegations. Jose Canseco has written books on his steroid use.

[@funcle_kevin]

He definitely had allegations against him before admitting it.

[@hustlecrowe9440]

those canseco sales are fake

[@Brand-ju4jm]

Grayson Rodriguez will be a hofer

[@williewoodall8305]

You're just dogging pitchers because your squad plays at Coors!

[@daniellarsen889]

Dont invest in baseball cards. Collect them. If you sell them, you make the money on the buy and not the sale. I sell all these guys all the time.

[@CrazyGoofballz]

Love the content Scott. What about Verlander for HOF...? You don't think he's a lock?

[@droogie76]

Verlander is going in for sure.

[@invaderj815]

Quite a few pitchers should be in the HOF but are being disrespected because of war