Question about Babe Ruth Rookie

[Matthew H]

Steve, I always thought it was first card by manufacture... 51 bowman mantle, 52 topps. Isn't there also some 80s players that have RCs from multiple years, different card companies listed? Sorry I don't have any of my old Becketts any more, so I can't check.

[Ronnie73]

There were many from the 1980's like Mark McGwire with the 1985 topps and 1987 donruss and fleer. Same thing with Jose Canseco with the 1986 donruss and fleer but the 1987 topps was considered also a rookie even though topps had the 1986 update Canseco. I personally don't consider the 1933 goudey Ruth a rookie but still a great card to own.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

Steve, I always thought it was first card by manufacture... 51 bowman mantle, 52 topps. Isn't there also some 80s players that have RCs from multiple years, different card companies listed? Sorry I don't have any of my old Becketts any more, so I can't check.

They may have changed, but the 51 Bowman would be the rookie card and the 52 topps the first Topps card. Some people call it a rookie because it's the most expensive, but it's not.

The mid 80's stuff led to lots of confusion. like the McGwire. Do you count the 85 topps? It qualified under their rules, but it was from a subset and wasn't a major league card. The 87s fit the defenition better, but weren't his first card from a major national set.

The whole point of rookie cards has been silly since the early 80's, maybe a bit before. They were initially worth more because kids usually only collected for 3 years or so, and when the cards got tossed maybe a few got saved. Usually established stars. So the rookies were a bit harder to find. By 81 for sure lots of people were buying the promising rookies by the hundred or more and saving them.
But Beckett continued to push the whole "rookie" thing. As did many dealers, especially the typical underfunded clueless guys who drove the whole late 80's scene. Buy at wholesale, sell for a couple weeks at a good price, then at a cheap price then at around 6 months sell at a loss to raise cash for the next new product. Repeat till you have no money left then close.

Steve B

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

Steve, I always thought it was first card by manufacture... 51 bowman mantle, 52 topps. Isn't there also some 80s players that have RCs from multiple years, different card companies listed? Sorry I don't have any of my old Becketts any more, so I can't check.

As far as the 80's were concerned. I believe you're referring to the XRC designations. Those were only given to cards that weren't available in packs. And the RC designation was given to cards during the first year that a player had cards available in packs. That's why you don't really see the XRC much after '89. Because in '90, Topps started putting their traded sets in packs as well as factory set form. IMO, 1987 is NOT Mcgwire's rookie card year. I don't feel that the Olympic factor should discount the '85 Topps, because it was still part of a major MLB release, and was available in packs. But given the olympic factor, I can understand and possibly accept the rationale behind it..

And again. '52 Topps, IS NOT a Mantle rookie. Never has, never will be...And not to be stubborn, or come off like an ass. But anyone who thinks otherwise, is flat out wrong.. First Topps card. Nothing more, nothing less..

[Matthew H]

I'm not saying I agree, I was trying to help answer the op's question. Obviously it's ridiculous to call the 1933 card of an aging Ruth his rookie card.

[Wymers Auction]

Thanks for all of your responses. I find it hard to accept a rookie card for someone who is a year way from retirement.

[DaClyde]

The first red flag should have simply been the phrase "ebay seller". According to your average eBay seller, any Japanese card of a Japanese player is a rookie, any relatively early card of a player is a rookie and "1/1" can be applied to any card in existence.