Mariano Rivera Rookie Question

hookem

What would be the best Rivera cards to pick up for my PC? I don't want the Bowman card because I don't like the street clothes pose.

jacksoncoupage

He doesn't have much beyond 1993 Bowman between 1992 and 1996. There's 1995 Topps w/ Mouton, 1995 Bowman, 1995 Stadium Club and that's about it. 1996 is when many of the card designated "rookie" on front started to sprout up.

digicat

The 1992 Bowman is Rivera's only rookie card. Any other card will be a matter of personal preference.

You could go with his 1993 Bowman. It's his first card in a Yankees uniform.

Hallco

95 Score...not rare or expensive, but I love the intense look in his eyes...(and the card says "rookie")

digicat

1995 Score:

jacksoncoupage

<< <i>1995 Score:

>>



That's 1996 Score.

Hallco

That's the one I was talking about....I didn't remember it was 96. Sorry!

digicat

<< <i>That's 1996 Score. >>



Whoops. I know 1988 - 1992 Score, then they all blur together after that.

jacksoncoupage

I think I like this question because Mariano doesn't really have a great alternate option. I think that the 1992 Bowman set is pretty unattractive in general. Aside from the foil cards, it doesn't offer a whole lot.

Same applies to the 1993 set, maybe even more so. Not a single eye-catching, iconic card among that set.

So, really, it becomes kind of a challenge to find a great rookie-era Mariano card. When I look for this stuff my criteria usually involves set design, company longevity (Topps products obviously dominate here) and photo. I think the design of his 1996 Collector's Choice is pretty interesting, as it has a sort of old baseball grandstand theme to it. The 1996 Ultra Gold Medallion cards really stand out and it labels Mariano as a rookie, plus has a nice photo of him in his Yankees uniform. Come to think of it, its kind of odd that he didn't get a Topps or major Upper Deck issue in 1996.

digicat

Wow, I didn't know this, but in 1996 as a setup man, he got a 1st place Cy Young vote! The two 20+ game winners (Hentgen and Pettitte) got the rest.

MinorLeagueSource

1990 Tampa

CDsNuts

I don't like the design on Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps card. What would be his best rookie card to buy besides that?

jacksoncoupage

<< <i>I don't like the design on Rickey Henderson's 1980 Topps card. What would be his best rookie card to buy besides that? >>



Considering his 1980 through 1984 cards all labeled him a "rookie," that's a tough call.

Dodger243

I feel the same way about the 1960 Topps set where some of the players are not wearing their baseball hats. At least they should had the the star players of that period wear their hats,it would have made their cards so much better IMO.

sportscardtheory

<< <i>1990 Tampa >>



Here is the winner. He only has one RC, the one you don't want, so unless you want something that is 2nd year or later, the 1990 Tampa Minor League card is your best bet. He also has one or two more Minor League cards from 1991 and/or 1992 that are not too bad.

hookem

Thanks guys are all the great input! I had no idea that there was such a gap between the Bowman and his others. I might look the the minor league one or the 93 Bowman card!