Michael Jordan Upper Deck RC!?!?!?!?

[JAP78]

That is in fact the 1991 issue I am talking about. He wore a White Sox uniform and took BP swings for fun. UD captured the moment and used it for a special promo card. My opinion is he was a basketball player and great athlete who used his status to obtain a great, fun opportunity. He was not officially a baseball player until the 1994 issue. It is a unique situation without a doubt.....Thanks for posting that photo.

[ALR-bishop]

You might look at the discussion on the main board about the Mantle rookie card. Included is a discussion about whether a true rookie card needs to occur in year the player actually played, and at what level.

As with most hobby debates there is no official hobby arbiter to decide such questions. Opinions vary. Are you using PSA ? Do all the grading companies come out in the same place on this ?

[Marchillo]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

You might look at the discussion on the main board about the Mantle rookie card. Included is a discussion about whether a true rookie card needs to occur in year the player actually played, and at what level.

As with most hobby debates there is no official hobby arbiter to decide such questions. Opinions vary. Are you using PSA ? Do all the grading companies come out in the same place on this ?

I think the Mantle discussion is a completely different beast. Mantle was a baseball player in 1951 and Bowman made a card for him. In 1952 Topps issued a card which is arguably the most iconic card in the hobby along with the Wagner. So a lot of people refer to it as his RC. I'm sure that is part marketing and part Topps bias in the hobby.

The Jordan issue seems cut and dry. If Michael Jordan never played minor league baseball would the 1991 card be a rookie card? No. Just a fun special card to try and get people to spend more money on packs to get one. In 1994 he switches to baseball and boom 1991 is his RC? I don't think so.

Just my opinion of course.

[pokerplyr80]

I used to own both of those cards as a kid. Probably have them in a box somewhere. Since he never made it to the majors both may be considered XRCs but I'm fine with either being referred to as a RC.

[JAP78]

The official email response from SGC states that if Jordan actually made it to the big leagues and had a MLB debut, they would consider labeling the 1994 issue as a RC. That being said, he did not make a debut so they will use their discretion by labeling the 1991 issue as a RC instead.

[ALR-bishop]

Marchillo---I was not saying I think the Mantle card itself is analogous. In that thread though there is a discussion about the parameters for determining a rookie card, including whether it should coincide with a year in which the player actually appeared in games and at what level. I do think that is related to the discussion here

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by JAP78

The official email response from SGC states that if Jordan actually made it to the big leagues and had a MLB debut, they would consider labeling the 1994 issue as a RC. That being said, he did not make a debut so they will use their discretion by labeling the 1991 issue as a RC instead.

Sounds about right. I actually remember pulling the electric diamond variation of the 94 card in a pack. I was pretty excited at the time.