What's a rookie card?

[ALR-bishop]

If Rookie card is a player's first baseball card ever, that's one way to look at it. If a rookie card is the first card issued by a particular manufacturer/producer, that is another way to look at it. Some folks get fairly exercised about the rookie card issue. As a set collector and not a rookie card collector, it does not matter much to me. But, I understand why it would be important to one who centers their collection around "rookie" cards

For example the fact most folks contend the Topps 52 Mantle is not a true rookie card, as opposed to his Topps rookie card, does not affect it's higher value much, if at all, versus any earlier Mantle cards by Bowman

On the other hand, Musial's first Topps card was not until 1958 and was an All Star card. I have never heard it seriously referred to as a rookie card, and it's value will never approach that of his earlier non Topps cards, whether it be Bowman or Homogenized Bread or Leaf or whatever.