My Definition of a Rookie Card (1980's & Early 1990's Focused) - 2 Questions...
I know we all have our own definition of what defines a rookie card, so not looking for a debate on that.
These are the criteria I am using:
1. Fully-licensed (both MLB and MLBPA)
2. Nationally-distributed set that is primarily focused on current Major League players.
3. Rookie and Traded Sets (XRC) are being considered as nationally distributed.
4. If a player has a base card and an XRC in the same year, the base card is the true rookie (see 1987 Donruss Maddux)
5. If a player only has a XRC for a given year, then those are the rookie cards and any base/XRC in further years are not considered rookies (See 1986 TT/FU/DR Bonds, 1984 FU Clemens)
6. Base or Base Parallel (Topps Tiffany or Fleer/Score Glossy)
7. Player does not need to be in in a MLB uniform (See 1992 Bowman Ramirez)
Questions:
Per my #6 above, at what point in the year were the Tiffany and Glossy sets released? Were they released at the same time of the year as the base sets?
Per my #7 above, I am not fully set on this one. 1992 Bowman vs 1992 Upper Deck Ramirez is the prime example. I know in more recent releases logos are photo shopped on. What do you think on this specific requirement?
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
Comments
I'm not sure I understand. You're asking us how we think you should define your own personal interpretation of the phrase "rookie card" to be?
Arthur
I am just asking the 2 questions listed under my criteria.
Edit: I added a break in the post to make it more clear.
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
Tiffany sets were released 4-6 months after the initial release of the base cards. Topps issued base cards in Nov/Dec with Fleer and Donruss shortly after. Tiffany sets were released in late spring once the season was underway and Topps knew who their top distributors/orderers were.
Thanks Chris! Do you happen to know the timing of the fleer and score glossy sets?
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
It was so much easier in the 1980's. Now you just have too many cards of each player.
I collect hall of fame rookie cards, https://www.instagram.com/stwainfan/
I especially like criteria 4 and 5. 83 Topps traded strawberry should trump 84 straw. But 82 Topps 3 player Ripken RC should trump the 82 traded.
Yaz Master Set
#1 Gino Cappelletti master set
#1 John Hannah master set
Also collecting Andre Tippett, Patriots Greats' RCs, Dwight Evans, 1964 Venezuelan Topps, 1974 Topps Red Sox
My memory is June/July timing, but I am not positive. It was certainly well after their main release.
Yeah, I saw that 89 Donruss is not even part of his PSA rookie set. Not sure why. Guess just because it is not in a base or traded set. It is a baseball’s best set...
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
The multi player cards get no love for sure...
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
I don't particularly like multi-player cards, but in determining a rookie card, timing is everything.
Yaz Master Set
#1 Gino Cappelletti master set
#1 John Hannah master set
Also collecting Andre Tippett, Patriots Greats' RCs, Dwight Evans, 1964 Venezuelan Topps, 1974 Topps Red Sox