Pre-War HOF Baseball Rookie Cards

five7teen

Apologies if this has been covered previously, but is there a list of the generally accepted rookie cards of pre-war Hall of Fame baseball players? SMR doesn't always indicate "R" and for some players it's not clear to me what the "true RC" is. Take Hank Greenberg for example, his first major cards seem to have been produced in 1934 - both Batter Up and Goudey, are they both considered rookie cards? Thanks in advance.

Griffins

I don't pay much attention to the rookie designation (no judgment, just don't care) but many that do really like Brett Domue's site
Pre War HOFers

MajorDanby

<< <i>but is there a list of the generally accepted rookie cards of pre-war Hall of Fame baseball players? >>



simple answer: no.

complex answer: no, but people have tried.

Unlike in the post war, pre war mainstream baseball cards were not produced every year. Goudey attempted to do so in the 30's, but failed. Cracker Jacks came out for only two years. Caramel and tobacco issues were primarily issued in the early 20th century, followed by candy and bread cards. In the years in between these issues, you'll find either absolutely nothing or post cards/exhibits, which many consider not baseball cards...and hence not rookie baseball cards. I, like a few brave souls out there, am attempting to put together a HOF rookie collection. The task, i admit, will likely never be accomplished...especially with the glut of negro league players getting admitted to the HOF this year. But, i've encountered pre war players where there is an issued card for their rookie years...and i've encountered the opposite extreme where there are absolutely no cards of that player even in their first 3 or 4 seasons (see Yogi Berra). The median is usually a player has a postcard/exhibit issued. Then you'll need to ask yourself: "Do i feel comfortable saying that a postcard/exhibit is a baseball card?"

mikeschmidt

Realize that with some pre-war issues of a first generally defined "card" of a particular player - there may be only one or certainly less than five copies of that card known to the hobby. When you have a unique card issued years before other examples that they may have more copies -- it is not so easy to call one a "rookie" card instead of the other.