Let's talk about "over-looked" true Rookie cards....Pre-war and early Post-war

[Ricky]

Originally Posted by packs

What about a set like Cracker Jacks or some of the Coupon sets that feature a heavy Federal League presence? Are those considered major league cards?

Yes, Federal League was considered a major league in its day and records are incorporated into players stats.

[packs]

Can you discuss your perception of the Federal League a little more? I brought it up to talk about perception. The Federal League was actually founded in 1913 but only the 1914 and 1915 seasons are “counted” as major league.

Personally I see the Federal League as a mirror of other “major” leagues that are not THE major leagues. Like the Japanese League and how an earlier discussion of Ichiro differentiated between Japanese rookie and MLB. Federal League players had cards issued among major league sets but I don’t think it can be said they were MLB cards if the MLB existed and they weren’t playing in it.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

Can you discuss your perception of the Federal League a little more? I brought it up to talk about perception. The Federal League was actually founded in 1913 but only the 1914 and 1915 seasons are “counted” as major league.

Personally I see the Federal League as a mirror of other “major” leagues that are not THE major leagues. Like the Japanese League and how an earlier discussion of Ichiro differentiated between Japanese rookie and MLB. Federal League players had cards issued among major league sets but I don’t think it can be said they were MLB cards if the MLB existed and they weren’t playing in it.

Understood but I think the acid test for a US league is whether the stats count.

[packs]

Who counts the Federal League stats though? Baseball Reference or MLB? I honestly don’t know.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

Who counts the Federal League stats though? Baseball Reference or MLB? I honestly don’t know.

I think both?
Contributions of those four other groups — the American Association (1882-1891), Federal League (1914-15), Union Association (1884) and the Players' League (1890) — were recognized in a 1969 report by MLB's Special Committee on Baseball Records.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Understood but I think the acid test for a US league is whether the stats count.

Interesting point. So with the recent acceptance and inclusion of Negro League player stats now counting as major league baseball stats, are there any cards or sets for those Negro League players that crossed into the majors that could possibly now be considered their true rookie or first cards, instead of the Bowman or Topps cards that had previously been considered their rookie or first cards? I do not really know of anything myself.

[packs]

I'm not aware of any officially licensed Negro League cards but many Negro League stars have rookie cards in Cuban and Caribbean sets.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

I'm not aware of any officially licensed Negro League cards but many Negro League stars have rookie cards in Cuban and Caribbean sets.

It's surprising one of the successful Negro League teams didn't put out a team set somewhere along the line.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's surprising one of the successful Negro League teams didn't put out a team set somewhere along the line.

Totally agree. There is only one team "set" that I can think of off the top of my head. In 1931, the Harrison Studio produced real photo postcards of the Homestead Grays. The collection included both a team postcard and those of individual players, including Josh Gibson.