Posted By:
Marc S."In terms of minor league cards, no, sorry, they ain't rookie cards because they lack the one essential feature central to any rookie card: the player being a rookie in MLB. Heck, I'd love for the definition to be otherwise--my Zeenuts would be worth a lot more--but I think at a bare minimum any rookie card has to feature a player in MLB. Anything else may be a first card or even an only card, but it ain't a rookie card. "
Well -- here is one question for you, then, pertaining specifically to Mike Schmidt, who happens to be my favorite player. Schmidt debuted in the major leagues in 1972, at the time a 22-year old player who was green behind the ears. So Schmidt was definitely a major leaguer in 1972 -- even though it was only thirteen games of major league experience.
In an effort to gain more expertise to make himself "ready" for the major leagues, he elected (or agreed) to go down to Puerto Rico to play in the Winter Leagues there during the offseason. During that offseason, a company (the name eludes me presently) produced stickers of many of the Winter League participants -- including of Schmidt.
The 1972 Puerto Rican League Sticker is Schmidt's first card -- and it was definitely issued after he already was a major leaguer. It just pictures him with his Winter League uniform.
The 1973 Topps card of Mike Schmidt is considered by many to be his rookie card -- and I do not officially take one side or the other on the debate. Nonetheless, the Puerto Rican League sticker is an important card in my collection, and I am happy to both own one and to have sold/traded other examples of the card to fellow collectors looking for this relatively rare Schmidt issue.
So -- back to my question: Does Schmidt's 1972 Puerto Rican League Sticker card qualify as a rookie under your defintion? Why or why not?
