Why don't more people collect Baseball Hall of Fame Rookie Cards?

[barrysloate]

Most of the reasons why people don't collect rookie cards have been stated, but the bottom line seems to be that it is impossible to do. One might get 90% or more of the known rookie cards with patience and a big checkbook, but finishing the set can't be done. And it would cost millions of dollars even if there was some way to do it. Plus, the lack of a consistent definition of a rookie card frustrates too many collectors. We've had numerous threads about rookie cards and there are always so many different opinions about what's what.

I like Jay's idea of collecting one card of choice of each Hall of Famer, difficult enough in its own right. In many cases a player's rookie card is unappealing so why spend big money on it?

Dan P.'s example of Cy Young is a good one. The Just So is unique, and the E107 is a five figure card. Why not simply get a nice portrait, such as a T206 or an E90-1, and call that your Cy Young example? I would rather buy a card that appeals to me aesthetically than one that is ugly but is a player's first. It kind of forces you to buy a card whether you find it attractive or not.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Most of the reasons why people don't collect rookie cards have been stated, but the bottom line seems to be that it is impossible to do. One might get 90% or more of the known rookie cards with patience and a big checkbook, but finishing the set can't be done. And it would cost millions of dollars even if there was some way to do it. .

This would then suggest that no-one should go after the T-206 set. It's almost impossible to complete...so what do people do, they make sub-sets and create their own definitions of a "complete" set. We HOF Rookie cards do the same thing.

I actually started my journey by looking for any card of players that had 3,000 career hits and/or 500 career HR's. Most of these guys were in the HOF, and once I got a R. Henderson rookie card, it was all over for me. I just loved getting "rookie" cards. To me, I don't care if I never complete this "set" in 100 years, it's the journey that is the most enjoyable part of the collection. I love that I am learning about new cards all the time (take the 1905 Pokomoke Team PC w/ Frank Baker, for example)...

Also, I believe Leon stated that he started out looking for HOF rookie cards and then migrated to type card collecting. Getting a "complete" set of HOF rookie cards would give you quite a bit of variety in the type-card world. I love the variety of the cards in my collection because of it. I think it would be so boring to only go after 1925 Exhibits, for example. The appeal of HOF rookie collecting is the depth and breadth of my collection and the discovery of new items that fit the definition and "change the checklist". I can see why Dan P. got frustrated, but who cares? I love my stuff and don't care whether someone else considers my 1923 Type I Press Photo, which was used to create the 1925 Exhibit card, of Lou Gehrig a "rookie". It is to me!!

And if a new card that pre-dates my example is discovered, oh well! Great! Now I get to learn about a new card / type-card / set and get to decide if I want to pursue it.

And lastly, Leon - - sorry to disappoint, but your Minneapolis Team w/ T. Williams is not the earliest...Phil has a 1937 SD Team Premium and I have a 1937 SD Team PC, shown below! Enjoy!!

[Runscott]

My read was that it's too expensive for most of us. Same reason we collect T206's.

For the wealthier collectors, though, I think you assessed the problems correctly.

[oldjudge]

Phil--why do you have to measure (read compete) your collection against others? Collect what you enjoy for you, not for how it compares to others. This is the whole registry set disease. Collecting your favorite card of a player rather than the "rookie" card means you will get the card you enjoy most, not the card that someone else is telling you to buy. Think outside the box instead of getting locked in.

[HRBAKER]

The question was why isn't it more popular. I think the answers were very clear and correct. Nobody said don't do it. I think it will always just be a marginal niche bc of just what has been discussed. Nothing is wrong with that.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

And lastly, Leon - - sorry to disappoint, but your Minneapolis Team w/ T. Williams is not the earliest...Phil has a 1937 SD Team Premium and I have a 1937 SD Team PC, shown below! Enjoy!!

No disappointment here as I didn't buy it thinking it was Ted's earliest card. I could pretty much care less about them and only buy them when it's a type I still need. Neat 1937 card, thanks for sharing. (I need it as a type too) Happy collecting....