Rookie Cards of Baseball Hall of Famers

[CharleyBrown]

David makes a good point about those with only one known example..

Maybe instead of bypassing them, you could keep the 1 known example issues with an asterisk, and then also include the next known sports card?

[CharleyBrown]

BTW Phil,

Thanks for compiling this list!!

[ledsters]

I believe the Dean's issue would be considered a photo instead of a card? Phil has a great site about the earliest collectibles, and he does have the Dean's issue listed already.

The 1973 Issue was given away the same way the 1978 Family Fun Center card of Ozzie Smith was at the stadium...so maybe you can't consider that Ozzie card his rookie (although I believe it is). Just because the 1973 Winfield card does not have stats or writing on the back, does not make it not a card. It is just a larger card on thin paper stock. There are plenty of blank-backed, thin paper-stock cards out there. I would consider the 1973 Winfield his true rookie card...but that is just my opinion.

[ls7plus]

As we've discussed before, there is significant evidence to indicate that the W560 issue was actually released in years subsequent to 1927, that evidence being its inlikely player selection if 1927 had truly been the year of issue. That would leave true rookies of Grove and Foxx to the '26-'29 Exhbits sets, or at least put the latter on a probable par with the former. With the exact date of issue unascertainable for some cards, which is to be deemed "the" rookie may well lie in the eye of the beholder = owner, in this instance.

Good, thought-provoking thread!

Happy collecting as always,

Larry

[bcbgcbrcb]

Good questions, guys.

I am well aware of the Dean's Winfield but have chosen to not include it as the majority of collectors would not consider it a card although it is definitely a Rookie piece. I have basically done the same thing with all team issued photo packs, etc. if you check a lot of the 1940's Rookie Cards, you will see that.

After the 1-of-a-kind cards, the second McGraw card would be his 1902 W600 and the second Young card would be his 1902 W600.

Regarding the Puerto Rican Schmidt, since it was Winter League (not Minor League) and after his Major League debut, I included it as I have done with many Negro League players on the list. The MacPhail and Weiss cards could go either way, it's tough to say so I am going to leave those choices up to the individual collector.

I did include the Family Fun Ozzie as it has just about all the attributes of a card as compared to the Dean's Winfield photo.

The W560 question is a good one, if a corrected date can be pinpointed, I would go back and revise those necessary entries on the list. Keep in mind, that I have researched the Postcard-Back Exhibits and many could not have been issued earlier than 1928 or 1929 based on the uniform styles pictured.

This evening, I will go back and list second cards for those Rookie Cards which have a single unique example known.

Once again, I appreciate all of the input!

[leftygrove10]

Phil:

Great list! Thank you for putting in the effort and time required to make such a list!

I do have a question: Do you consider the 1921-30 Major League Ball Die-Cuts to be options for your list?

Brad

[bcbgcbrcb]

Brad:

I decided to leave theose out, primarily since collectors were the ones responsible for taking the stickers identifying the players and placing them on generic cut-outs. In general, it is an extremely unpopular set so I decided that it would be better left off. I know that it does have a couple of players like Cronin who would definitely pre-date any of their other cards.

[DanP]

Rick Ferrell (1931-32 4-on-1 Exhibits)
RC?

Not for me. I'd prefer to have the players name spelled correctly and of course the player on the card be that of the player . I have this card (actually two of them) but still call his 33 Goudey his RC.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Jimi:

I did not include any team photo cards, that's why the Posey from 1988 is not there.

[insidethewrapper]

Phil: I appreciate the list. Your a true hobby man. Sharing data is so unselfish. Thanks.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Matt:

The Tip Top Grove was a minor league card, thus making it a pre-rookie and not a rookie card.