1952 topps "rookies"

[Rookiemonster]

As long as I can remember people referred to the mantle & mays cards as rookies. What gives? Does topps only has the right to make rookie cards.
I just was reading a article and it said a 52 mays rookie sold for (a lot). But I'm like that's not his rookie.

So how did this happen and will it ever stop?

[swarmee]

Not a rookie. It's a "First Topps Card" which was kind of coined in the late 80s/early 90s when we started getting RC, XRC, and FTC in the Becketts. Doesn't mean it will ever stop.

[pokerplyr80]

I think it started because even non collectors know the 52 Mantle and because it's so valuable they assume it's his rookie. I didn't realize that happens with the Mays as well. I don't think it will ever stop either but would assume anyone in the hobby realizes which cards are the true RCs.

[bobsbbcards]

When I was younger, I heard so often that the 1952 Topps Mantle was his rookie card that I became convinced that 1952 happened before 1951. I assumed it was only recently that years started occurring chronologically.

[ALR-bishop]

I was born in 1950 and distinctly remember 1952 coming after 1951. But why does anyone care if someone calls the Mantle 52 card a rookie card ? What is the accepted hobby definition of a rookie card ? Will exposing the 52 Mantle as a rookie card fraud decrease it's value relative to the 51 Bowman ?

Plus Bob is like me and was born old

[almostdone]

In my experience I've come to the conclusion that 99.9% of collectors know which Mantle is his rookie and which is not. The difference is that some people care about semantics much more than the rest.
Drew