Let's talk about rookie cards
Sports card collectors can't seem to agree on rookie card definitions. What do you consider a rookie card?
Sports card collectors can't seem to agree on rookie card definitions. What do you consider a rookie card?
1951 Bowman #253
1951 Bowman #253
Mickey Mantle's 1951 Bowman card is his true rookie card. However, Mantle's iconic 1952 Topps card often gets viewed as the holy grail of post-war sports cards leading some industry insiders to mislabel the card. Regular media coverage of significant 1952 Topps Mantle sales perpetuates this label to the general public.
2011 Topps Update #US175
2011 Topps Update #US175
The 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout is Trout's most well-known rookie card. However, some collectors don't consider Update Series cards eligible to be true rookie cards. When that's the case, this card becomes an XRC.
1987 Topps #366
1987 Topps #366
1985 Topps contained a subset of 1984 Team USA cards. One of those cards featured a young Mark McGwire a full year before he had played his first MLB game in 1986. Many collectors and Beckett price guides labeled the 1985 Topps card as a rookie card, sealing its fate. McGwire has several 1987 cards that are all generally viewed as rookie cards in the modern era. However, if the 1985 card is a rookie card, the 1987 cards lose that designation.
1960 Topps #148
1960 Topps #148
The 1960 Topps Carl Yastrzemski is widely regarded as his rookie card, with no controversy around that designation. However, Yastrzemski did not play in an MLB game until 1961. If a card must be printed on or after a player's rookie season to count as a rookie card, this card would no longer qualify.
