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?
2021 Bowman's Best #50
2021 Bowman's Best #50
2021 Bowman's Best broke the rule for clearly labeling prospect cards as such in sets that include veterans. While the prospects did have a shared card design, Beckett Media and some collectors viewed these prospect cards as rookie cards. The controversy around this card was compounded by 2021 being Wander Franco's rookie year. With no rookie Franco rookie cards in other 2021 sets, collectors felt that Topps was intentionally holding back the rookie cards to sell more 2022 products.
1952 Topps #311
1952 Topps #311
Mickey Mantle's iconic 1952 Topps card often gets viewed as the holy grail of post-war sports cards leading some collectors to mislabel the card. Regular media coverage of significant 1952 Topps Mantle sales perpetuates this label to the general public. Mantle's 1951 Bowman card is his true rookie card.
2022 Topps Series 2 #659
2022 Topps Series 2 #659
Julio Rodriguez is a 2022 rookie. Like Wander Franco, Rodriguez has a 2021 Bowman's Best card that should have been labeled "prospect." Rodriguez's 2022 Topps Series 2 card is a short-printed variation of card #659. This card meets all of the common criteria to be a rookie card so its status depends on 2021 Bowman's Best.
2022 Topps Series 1 #215
2022 Topps Series 1 #215
The 2022 Topps Wander Franco card is controversial due to 2021 Bowman's Best breaking rules related to prospect cards. The controversy around the Bowman's Best card was compounded by 2021 being Wander Franco's rookie year. With no rookie Franco rookie cards in other 2021 sets, collectors felt that Topps was intentionally holding back the rookie cards to sell more 2022 products. The 2022 Topps Series 1 card has the RC logo, which reignited the debate about which card is the true rookie card.