O/T The concept of a non-sports "rookie card"

[Snapolit1]

I think the term “rookie”’ is absurd in this context.

Hypothetically a guy performs on stage or screen for a dozen years and then ends for the first time on a card or similar item …. That ain’t a rookie anything. It’s a first something.

If Joe Biden or Willie Nelson ended up on a card this year for the first time, would someone with a straight face claim that as a “rookie” something?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I think the term “rookie”’ is absurd in this context.

Hypothetically a guy performs on stage or screen for a dozen years and then ends for the first time on a card or similar item …. That ain’t a rookie anything. It’s a first something.

Exactly. This term is infuriating when applied to non-athletes who don't have rookie seasons. It's used in an attempt to drive up hype and inflate prices by introducing such cards to sports-based collectors as "RCs".

Of course, this will lead to somebody asking how this then applies to executives and other non-playing personnel who may have cards issued as part of sports sets. To me, that's a bit of a grey area, but hey, they are involved in the sport in some way.

I'm thinking that perhaps The Simpsons came up with this idea over 30 years ago. "A Methuselah rookie card!"

For musicians, should their RC have to be released around the same time as their debut album or first hit? Should I have to pay a premium for a A Taste of Honey card that was issued pre-Boogie Oogie Oogie?

Now, steer me to the Captain and Tenille RCs and Dion DiMucci superrefractors!

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Love the facsimile autograph in modern script.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Don't people call 50-51 Toleteros Josh Gibson (issued after he died) his rookie card? There are certainly a number of first football cards issued years after the player's rookie season that are commonly called RCs.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Don't people call 50-51 Toleteros Josh Gibson (issued after he died) his rookie card? There are certainly a number of first football cards issued years after the player's rookie season that are commonly called RCs.

This has never made any sense to me. Post-war vintage football is replete with "rookies" of long-time veterans. HOFer Frank Gatski's "rookie card" is a 1955 Bowman, his last year as a professional, as just one example (the 1946 Sears isn't a rookie because reasons). 1955 Topps All-American, 1952 Bowman, and 1948 Leaf cards that feature college players can be rookies, even posthumously, but the 1951 Topps Magic's are not. The inconsistent rules, the small set sizes, football rookies are more of a mess than baseball.

It seems to me some players just don't have a rookie card.

"First card" makes more sense to me to use for these things. The silliest is the fictional character rookies. I collect (i.e. hoard) the 1977 Topps Star Wars, or at least I used to do when I could buy bulk for a dime a pop. Ever since the 2020 increases, the younger crowd has been hyping "Luke Skywalker RC" and "Boba Fett RC" in the 1980 set in the Discord groups. Seems kind of silly to me. I suppose every single card in the 1977 set is a "first card/rookie" of whatever is featured.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Let's not forget about the ridiculous concept of some Laughlin cards being considered RCs. Forget about later career or post-career! Some of these were issued post-mortem! Your "rookie" had already been six feet under for 30-40 years. One player, Bill Monroe, died in 1915! That's 59 years before the card was issued. Sorry, that's not a RC for my taste. "First card" fits the bill.

But back on topic, there certainly are a lot of gorgeous music and non-sports cards out there. I may not agree with the RC designation, but completely understand the appeal.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

This has never made any sense to me. Post-war vintage football is replete with "rookies" of long-time veterans. HOFer Frank Gatski's "rookie card" is a 1955 Bowman, his last year as a professional, as just one example (the 1946 Sears isn't a rookie because reasons). 1955 Topps All-American, 1952 Bowman, and 1948 Leaf cards that feature college players can be rookies, even posthumously, but the 1951 Topps Magic's are not. The inconsistent rules, the small set sizes, football rookies are more of a mess than baseball.

It seems to me some players just don't have a rookie card.

"First card" makes more sense to me to use for these things. The silliest is the fictional character rookies. I collect (i.e. hoard) the 1977 Topps Star Wars, or at least I used to do when I could buy bulk for a dime a pop. Ever since the 2020 increases, the younger crowd has been hyping "Luke Skywalker RC" and "Boba Fett RC" in the 1980 set in the Discord groups. Seems kind of silly to me. I suppose every single card in the 1977 set is a "first card/rookie" of whatever is featured.

Basketball too given the huge gaps in production prior to 1969. 1948, 1957, 1961 so lots of "RCs" of players 5, 6 years into their careers.

[frankbmd]

When one refers to a Rookie Card, is not the adjective rookie linked to the word card itself rather than the subject of the card. If you agree then all "first" cards are equivalent to "rookie" cards. Haven't we got enough to quibble about instead of this?

Frank "still waiting for my rookie card" Burkett

[KJA]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Basketball too given the huge gaps in production prior to 1969. 1948, 1957, 1961 so lots of "RCs" of players 5, 6 years into their careers.

And then the gap in production in the 80's so 1986 Fleer set had quite a few RC's of players who weren't really rookies like Jordan. Unless you count the STAR releases.

[Shankweather]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I think the term “rookie”’ is absurd in this context.

Hypothetically a guy performs on stage or screen for a dozen years and then ends for the first time on a card or similar item …. That ain’t a rookie anything. It’s a first something.

If Joe Biden or Willie Nelson ended up on a card this year for the first time, would someone with a straight face claim that as a “rookie” something?

Baseball rookie cards aren't dependent on a player's rookie or debut season. It's just the first time they have a card in an MLB set. Like Jeter's 1993 RCs when he didn't debut until 1995 and his rookie season was 1996. Hamlet didn't get a card until the 1880s, almost 300 years after the play was written. But everyone knows this is his rookie card. Everyone.

[JollyElm]

Here ya go, 'Ole Pink Shoes'...


1972frankburkett01a.jpg

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Here ya go, 'Ole Pink Shoes'...


Attachment 627925

That’s Awesome!

[Bill77]

Here is an interesting one that I just found. I would have thought that Scott Bakula would have had an earlier card such as maybe a set based on Quantum Leap, but apparently, they never made a Quantum Leap set. His first card is from the 1993 version of Face to Face.

[boneheadandrube]

How About a Ferdinand Porsche Rookie?

1910 PC with Ferdinand Porsche.jpg

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by boneheadandrube

How About a Ferdinand Porsche Rookie?

Was Prince Heinrich's last name really Fahrt?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Jimmy BUffett's first, from the same issue.

[Cozumeleno]

Originally Posted by Bill77

Here is an interesting one that I just found. I would have thought that Scott Bakula would have had an earlier card such as maybe a set based on Quantum Leap, but apparently, they never made a Quantum Leap set. His first card is from the 1993 version of Face to Face.

I have a couple of these board games, one sealed. There are a ton of rookies in them from what I've been able to research. And they're a Canadian issue that wasn't heavily produced that I have seen. You can find singles on eBay but complete games/sets are somewhat hard to find.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Cozumeleno

I have a couple of these board games, one sealed. There are a ton of rookies in them from what I've been able to research. And they're a Canadian issue that wasn't heavily produced that I have seen. You can find singles on eBay but complete games/sets are somewhat hard to find.

1987 Motto and 1991 Face to Face are great sources of first cards.