November Pick-Ups

[jason.1969]

Originally Posted by Northviewcats

I just picked up this 1957 Kahn's Wiener Clemente. Don't know much about it. One question I have is why some refer to it as a rookie card when Clemente is obviously featured in the 1955 and 56 Topps issues?

Joe, I contacted someone who was selling this very card and billing it as an RC^2 (Roberto Clemente Rookie Card). I asked him what gave it that distinction and his response was that it was Clemente's first Kahn's card--the 55/56 sets being Reds only.

I suppose it's the same rationale as the 52T Mantle. Definitely, I will still continue to think of the 55T Clemente as the "real" RC, but I suspect this seller's response matches the thinking of others who attach the RC designation to the 57 Kahns.

[Beatles Guy]

Joe, I contacted someone who was selling this very card and billing it as an RC^2 (Roberto Clemente Rookie Card). I asked him what gave it that distinction and his response was that it was Clemente's first Kahn's card--the 55/56 sets being Reds only.

I suppose it's the same rationale as the 52T Mantle. Definitely, I will still continue to think of the 55T Clemente as the "real" RC, but I suspect this seller's response matches the thinking of others who attach the RC designation to the 57 Kahns

That's quite a stretch.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

That's quite a stretch.

Agree. Just because a particular card manufacturer wasn't active yet when a player was a rookie does not make all their first issue cards rookie cards. Is a '49 Leaf Joe DiMaggio his "rookie" Leaf card? Nonsense.

[jason.1969]

I agree. I wasn't endorsing the viewpoint but merely sharing it.

In the case of Clemente, it feels particular odd to me given that Topps is Topps and Kahn's Wieners is...Kahn's Wieners. Now were things reversed and Clemente had a 54 Kahn's Wieners but only a 55 Topps, I would definitely endorse the 54 as his true Rookie and the 55 Topps as his "major issue" RC.

Moving over to Mantle for a bit, that's kind of a tweener in that Bowman really was a major release, just not Topps. Still, I am in the camp that does not at all consider the 52T Mantle an RC. It's a spectacular card and a significant one to be sure, but to paraphrase Stan Lee, "1952 Topps Mickey Mantle...nuff said." I don't think it needs the RC label to underscore its prominence in the hobby.

Jason

[ALR-bishop]

What is the official hobby accepted definition of a rookie card anyway ?