What do you consider a "rookie card?"

[zljones]

A question I have for you is, what if there was an odd ball card issued the year before the Topps rookie-- and the earlier oddball fits your Major League rookie definition? I never understood how a 1955 Topps card is called a player's rookie card when there is an otherwise legitimate card of the player from 1954.

Yes, there is always gray area and collector choice involved.[/QUOTE]

Ah yes good question. Realistcally the 1954 card would be the true rookie card but if it is uglier to me then I do not buy it. I also have an obession with main sets of cards, usually because I think they are cooler looking to me and they have a sentimental type value to me and they are the national past time of cards. I also stay away from off brand cards for cost control reasons. If a player like Joe Montana does not have a rookie card for years after they began then I simply do not buy it unless I like the card alot. For example I really want a Michael Jordan 86-87 Fleer even though his first season was 84-85. It all depends on the card.

[drc]

I don't collect rookie cards, so my answer was not from someone about to purchase rookies with my hard earned dollars. Theory and practice are often two different things.

Though I have collected Topps rookie cards in the past, so am not without some practical experience. And this is coupled with my liking of odd ball cards.

[Blitzu]

I'm pretty simple on what I believe is a rookie card. Basically the first card that was produced in a given year for the player once they reached the professional leagues. I don't think card from the minors, colleges, or others count. For an example I don't believe the 1952 Topps Mantle is his rookie card. It may be his first Topps card, but his true and only rookie is his 1951 bowman. I don't think manufacturer matters. Whoever produces the card first in any given year when that player reaches the pros is their RC. So if two or three companies made cards in the same year then there could be multiple RC's.

That's just me, and how I look at RC cards.

[drc]

I think I agree with that.

[oldjudge]

The first issued card of a player. It could be minor league (the Baltimore News Ruth is his rookie card), but it must be a card. What is a card? Ask a person who does not collect baseball cards if what you have is a card. If he says no, it's not a card. Newspaper inserts, magazine or newspaper cut outs, pins, etc are not cards. Production levels don't matter---the Just So Young is his rookie.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I don't consider the 1914 Ruth to be his rookie card, I would call it a pre-rookie. To me, a rookie card has to be issued as a member of a major league team. I do agree on card definition.

[Runscott]

I always enjoy the 'Cobb rookie' debate.