Pre-war — Pre-rookie

[LincolnVT]

Let’s see some pre-war pre-rookie cards, postcards, photos of those that you collect. Any sport.

[brianp-beme]

Zeenuts are a good source to add pre-rookie fiber to your vintage diet.

As a bonus, sometimes these cards depict unusual poses of players before their rise to MLB fame. The two cards, as seen below, majestically capture Bill Leard and Allen Conkwright in the act of what is believed to be a dance-like mating ritual involving a wooden club.

Brian

[Yoda]

But can they find partners?

[Exhibitman]

[Bicem]

1904 letter by Ty Cobb while playing in the minors (t206 added for fun)

[gonefishin]

How about a little boxing, a 1925 Kid Gavilan. His professional career began in 1943 so I guess this is pre-rookie?

[G1911]

Originally Posted by gonefishin

How about a little boxing, a 1925 Kid Gavilan. His professional career began in 1943 so I guess this is pre-rookie?

He looks pretty big for a man who was -1 years old in 1925. No wonder he became a professional prize fighter!

[Clutch-Hitter]

Originally Posted by G1911

He looks pretty big for a man who was -1 years old in 1925. No wonder he became a professional prize fighter!

Prodigy

[brianp-beme]

I think he was in the embryonic stage of his career.

Brian

[G1911]

More seriously, since the OP says "any sport", I tried to think of a few I have that would qualify. There's not many in pre-war outside of baseball. Football has the 1926 Spauldings I suppose, but pretty much all the other sports don't really have this divide between "sets that count" and "sets that don't count". CDV's and Cabinets are about all I can think of, but even many of those are labelled a "rookie card". Going off eBay every single career contemporary Jack Johnson card is a rookie.

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I think he was in the embryonic stage of his career.

Brian

Well done. Just have to acknowledge this.

[LincolnVT]

What a great letter Jeff — it’s VERY nice!

[the-illini]

Always like showing this one off...