Question about RC in Beckett

OSClabs

Hi all,

What is the definition of a Rookie Card? For example, I have two 1977 Topps cards of 1) Efren Herrera #102 and 2) Scott Laidlaw #76. Both have team cards from earlier years. Why doesn't Beckett list them as Rookie cards? Misprint?

Thanks for the help.

Danny

TraderShea

Oh good luck figuring this one out...

A RC is supposed to be the first card a player appeared on with him being specifically featured. If he was in a group photo it wouldn’t count; if he was one of say four mini pictures with his name and a rookie banner or something this would ~ if it was his first spotlight its his rookie.

This of course stands to be the case until the advent of the "rookie card" logo last year, now all of a sudden "RC"s from previous years are still RC's but these players end up with two rookies and their "rookie card" logo cards become (RC)s. Look at say Liriano and you will find a 2002 RC and a 2006 (RC). The idea behind the "Rookie Card" logo is they want only 25-M roster guys to be rookies instead of sets and sets filled with guys who will never make it to the bigs. BUT, you can still make sets like that if you label the cards "prospect" cards ~ ie Bowman’s “DP”, “FG”, “P” etc sets still survive. This means a RC will no longer be the first appearance of a player and instead only those cards with the “Rookie Card” logos on the cards, but that’s only going forward from 06…

I think Beckett themselves have a hard time with um though, it seems to constantly change! We have XRC's popping up from time to time, we have RCs becoming non-RCs ~ they even did the "FTC" or FFC" and stuff for "first Topps card" type stuff in the past... it’s really all over the place. Sometimes a RC has to be in a major brand, sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter; they don’t seem to really have set guide lines they stick by.

Case in point, look at some of the Becketts from the last 12 months, specifically 48-49 Bowman. Being an Indians fan I usually look up those cards, and I watch the 48B Bob Feller sometimes labeled RC, sometimes not and instead the 38 Goudey is. Same thing with the 49B Lou Boudreau MG card; sometimes it’s a RC, sometimes its not...

Beckett actually puts out a book, "the rookie card guide" or something like that... that’s I guess their attempt to make an unchanging compilation of um. I would look up your cards in that book (I dont have one or I would for you - sorry) and just remember it ~ never paying attention to anything else and ideally it will stay the same

What it all boils down to; Beckett might call it something different each week but the first card a guy is featured on should be his rookie...

Shea

OSClabs

Shea,

Thanks for the info!

Beckett is confusing when you are confirming RCs. I'm going through 80's Topps FB now. It looks like some of my favorite players have RCs in this set but Beckett does not have the "RC" next to their name. For example, Dallas Cowboy's Aaron Kyle, Tom Rafferty, Randy Hughes, Benny Barnes and Herb Scott are in this set.

Danny

TraderShea

No problem,

Really, if you like to know who the RCs are then the big "rookie card" book is the way to go. Its like $30 or so and it lists every player for every sport with the first cards they appeared on (non inserts of course).

If you have guys which you know are RCs and Beckett doesnt list um as such then this book will tell you what they really feel and either confirm your feeling OR tell you of a card you didnt know existed.

TNTonPMS

Yea, you're definitely right , good luck .

WinPitcher

A rookie card was at one time the first appearence of a player on a nationally distributed set. Regardless if he was alone or with others.

Steve

OSClabs

I'll call Beckett about the Rookie Card Guide... I don't see it on their web site. That would be a great tool as I sort these cards.

PSA has five authorized dealers in Alabama listed on their web site. Four of them have closed their doors. What a shame.

Thanks!

Danny

TraderShea

<< <i>I'll call Beckett about the Rookie Card Guide... I don't see it on their web site. That would be a great tool as I sort these cards.
PSA has five authorized dealers in Alabama listed on their web site. Four of them have closed their doors. What a shame.
Thanks!
Danny >>



No need, here ya go:
Beckett Link

Amazon Link

Ebay search link

Stone193

Not to add anything to the confusion but here's something I copied out of SCD when it came out:



At least now there's a RC logo on all legit cards.
mike

OSClabs

Guys,

I appreciate it. Looking forwrd to getting that Rookie Guide.

WinPitcher

What is the definition of a Rookie Card? For example, I have two 1977 Topps cards of 1) Efren Herrera #102 and 2) Scott Laidlaw #76. Both have team cards from earlier years. Why doesn't Beckett list them as Rookie cards? Misprint?


To answer the original question, the team cards are regional i imagine while the Topps cards were nationally distributed and thus are considered the rookies for the players you are asking about.

Today however Topps has decided to set rules in what will be a rookie card.