Nolan Ryan/Tom Seaver rookie- woulda shoulda?
RedHeart54
Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭
I stumbled across this auction for one of those Tom Seaver/Nolan Ryan broder "rookie" cards. (I'd honestly never seen the one made to look like a real '67 card.) It got me thinking- had this card really existed is there any telling what it might be worth? Do you think this card would have had any significant effect on the hobby, particularly early on, when only a few cards (i.e. T-206 Wagner, '52 Mantle, Rose rookie) really defined the hobby? And is it true that perhaps the only reason it wasn't made was because Ryan got hurt in '66? (Looking at his stats he only appeared in two games, had one decision (a loss), and threw a total of three innings. Alas, it's a plausible reason.)
Looking at the history of the Ryan and Seaver rookies, the Seaver had always been more in demand, at least where price was the determining factor. Even in early price guides it always listed for, what, $300-400? As I recall, Ryan's really didn't start to become the piece of gold it is today until circa 1989-90 when he was traded to the Rangers. Granted, you can argue price discrepancies in terms of player performance, team perfromance, team location, media attention, etc etc. Seaver had all of that going for him throughout most of his career. Whatever Ryan lacked before, though, he has made up and then some at least where rookie card price determination is made: his PSA 9s are about double the price now of Seaver's.
There's never been a rookie card in any sport (at least that I know of) that had two major Hall of Famers on the same card. (I guess the closest we've had is the Molitor/Trammel or Bird/Magic.) God knows you Ryan and Seaver collectors have debated the question of such a dual rookie forever. I'm just curious what everyone thinks.
Looking at the history of the Ryan and Seaver rookies, the Seaver had always been more in demand, at least where price was the determining factor. Even in early price guides it always listed for, what, $300-400? As I recall, Ryan's really didn't start to become the piece of gold it is today until circa 1989-90 when he was traded to the Rangers. Granted, you can argue price discrepancies in terms of player performance, team perfromance, team location, media attention, etc etc. Seaver had all of that going for him throughout most of his career. Whatever Ryan lacked before, though, he has made up and then some at least where rookie card price determination is made: his PSA 9s are about double the price now of Seaver's.
There's never been a rookie card in any sport (at least that I know of) that had two major Hall of Famers on the same card. (I guess the closest we've had is the Molitor/Trammel or Bird/Magic.) God knows you Ryan and Seaver collectors have debated the question of such a dual rookie forever. I'm just curious what everyone thinks.
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Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
Stingray
<< <i>There's never been a rookie card in any sport (at least that I know of) that had two major Hall of Famers on the same card. (I guess the closest we've had is the Molitor/Trammel or Bird/Magic >>
This is sort of a contradiction. I believe a Ryan/Seaver rookie card would be the defining baseball rookie card of the post-war era had it been made, much like the Magic/Bird card was, and to an extent still is (at least for me) until Jordan's Fleer rookie exploded. As it stands, I think Koosman was a pretty good pitcher for being the 'other player' on Ryan's rookie.
I'd say that's pretty close!
I think it would have had a huge impact. That high series in the '67 set is so short printed that demand from player, team, and set collectors would have been enormous. The NM value of that card would easily be in the $3,000 to $4,000 range at it's peak had they been on the same card.
Scott
T-205 Gold PSA 4 & up
1967 Topps BB PSA 8 & up
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As for the Bird/Magic card, I don't know, the fact that it's a card with perforations initially made me view it as sort of a qualifier (an asterisk, if you will) with regards to HOFers sharing the same rookie card, though yes, we certainly do look at it as "one" card instead of three separate cards.
Donato
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