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.
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.
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.
1985 Topps #401
1985 Topps #401
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, with his 1985 considered pre-rookie. However, if the 1985 card is a rookie card, the 1987 cards lose that designation.
