Where did the term “semistars” originate?

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by ALBB

yes, the price guides back in the day - CCP, and CPU , recall they used that term " semi stars"

I worked on the first 15 issues or so of CCP and the term was around well before then. I suspect, as noted above, that is originated in dealer catalogs or ads of the late 60's or 1970's. You had a five or six level of stratification by the time CCP was launched that was generally understood. Ignoring test cards and the like, it was essentially, in descending order: Superstar/HOF-Star/Semi Star/Popular or Local Player/Common, with the latter of course segregated by series.

[Eggoman]

If I remember correctly - which I may not - there were SEMI-stars AND MINOR Stars, too...

OR am I nuts???

[CTDean]

Originally Posted by Eggoman

If I remember correctly - which I may not - there were SEMI-stars AND MINOR Stars, too...

OR am I nuts???

In the 1970's and early 1980's I considered a player a SEMI-star if he had a really great year one year and not so hot the next, leaving you in doubt about his next season. A minor star was a cut above average, but below SEMI-star status. Mostly used to price card lots for set breaks.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Eggoman

If I remember correctly - which I may not - there were SEMI-stars AND MINOR Stars, too...

OR am I nuts???

No, you're not nuts. I always thought of the two terms as being/meaning about the same thing, and that they were virtually interchangeable.

[ALBB]

Oh yes, there was also the " local " star price guide designation.... .which depending on what town you were in/ near a major lg team....every team had at least 5 " local stars " ..and sometimes " local star" was nothing more then
your Ed Kranepool type guy...which was a common in the other 49 states !! LOL

[Chris-Counts]

I recall it was used frequently in the 1970s at card shows.