Minor league cards

[Chris-Counts]

I'll take this 1946 Carmelo Deportivo over a 1952 Topps, Bowman or Berk Ross Minnie Minoso "rookie card." Technically, it's only a second-year "pre-rookie," since there is also a 1945 version with a different pose.

[steve B]

The accepted "definition" of what's a rookie card is a purely arbitrary thing Beckett came up with back when draft pick sets and little sun High school sets came out and there was a lot of confusion.

I've always read it as "a rookie card is one made sort of near the players first season but that exists in big enough quantities that even the most out of touch dealer can get in on the action"

[Balticfox]

Have any of the main card companies - e.g. Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Leaf, Philly/Swell, Score, Pacific, Upper Deck - ever issued a set featuring AAA players? I know Pacific did it for the AHL in 2003-04.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Have any of the main card companies - e.g. Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Leaf, Philly/Swell, Score, Pacific, Upper Deck - ever issued a set featuring AAA players? I know Pacific did it for the AHL in 2003-04.

I know that both Topps / Bowman issued cards with players in their minor league uniforms. For instance, there are Aaron Judge minor league cards from 2013 from the Topps and the Bowman brands.

If you go back just a few more years, Topps and Bowman disappear, and they are mostly regional prints. See, for instance, Pujols (2000) and Betts (2012). There are also cool U16 and U18 USA team cards for players like Francisco Lindor from the mid 2000s.

[packs]

Topps typically releases Topps Pro Debut every season and the set is exclusive to minor league cards.

There is also the Topps heritage Minors set that is also typically part of the yearly release schedule, also dedicated solely to minor league players.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Have any of the main card companies - e.g. Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Leaf, Philly/Swell, Score, Pacific, Upper Deck - ever issued a set featuring AAA players? I know Pacific did it for the AHL in 2003-04.

Upper Deck issued minor league cards in 1992, 1994, and 1995. I'm sure there were AAA players as well as A and AA. The 1992 set had 330 cards, the 1994 had 270, and the 1995 had 225.

In around 1992, Fleer bought ProCards and issued team sets in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995. The team sets covered all three levels of the minors. Fleer Excel also issued a set of 300 minor league cards around 1994.

I stopped collecting minor league cards in 2000, so I don't know what was issued after that.

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Have any of the main card companies - e.g. Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Leaf, Philly/Swell, Score, Pacific, Upper Deck - ever issued a set featuring AAA players? I know Pacific did it for the AHL in 2003-04.

Bowman did a Pacific Coast League set in 1949. It's much scarcer than their MLB set from that year, but it contains no major stars, so it doesn't get much attention.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Along those same lines, how many remember that the last single player Exhibits card set issued during the 1920’s was the PCL Exhibits series, including a pre-rookie card of Earl Averill. Yes, he was also included in Zeenuts sets before that as well. Since my buddy Cesar would also like to know…..Averill’s MLB rookie card is his 1929-30 R315.

[Cubanball]

Phil, I agree with you the PCL sets are great cards with many first cards of great ballplayers. I personally love the Zeenuts cards. On the question of what is a rookie card it is all about semantics. You did a superb job in your book in highlighting the true rookie cards for hall of famers. Anyone more interested in this subject I highly recommend Phil's book picturing the true rookie cards for hall of famers from the four major sports. It's available on eBay or contact Phil.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Thanks, Cesar, much appreciated.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

I'll take this 1946 Carmelo Deportivo over a 1952 Topps, Bowman or Berk Ross Minnie Minoso "rookie card." Technically, it's only a second-year "pre-rookie," since there is also a 1945 version with a different pose.

This is an awesome card. Almost as cool as the Eric Davis with his eyes closed!