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?
1987 Topps #320
1987 Topps #320
Barry Bonds has an uncommon scenario with his rookie cards. His 1986 cards are included in Update/Traded sets though he played over 100 games during his 1986 rookie year. Beckett made the designation "XRC" for these cards, which it later abandoned (though cards with this designation were grandfathered into keeping it), and his 1987 cards are generally considered his true rookie cards. A core tenant of "rookie cards" is that they can't span multiple years, so the 1986 traded/update card eligibility will dictate if the 1987 base set cards are eligible.
1982 Topps #21
1982 Topps #21
Cal Ripken Jr.'s 1982 Topps flagship set card is unanimously considered a rookie card.
1961 Topps #287
1961 Topps #287
1961 was Carl Yastrzemski's rookie year, and his 1961 Topps card says "1961 Rookie" similar to other rookie cards in the set. However, the 1960 Topps Carl Yastrzemski is widely regarded as his rookie card. If a card must be printed on or after a player's rookie season to count as a rookie card, the 1961 Topps card would become a 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.