Collecting Rookie Cards

[johnburris3]

Just wondering if anybody here knows of anyone aiming at the same goal as me (or already achieved it)?

I am collecting- A Rookie Card for every player from 1948 to the present. Total players who have a RC through 2018 = 11,932 rookies (players). I have all but 39. I own a rookie card of every player between 1953 and 2018. Total RC's I own (including multiple brands and variations= 23,000 +).

Prior to 2006, a RC is the card from a regular set of the players first appearance on a major brand (licensed) card. After 2006, I use the RC logo, unless they had a card issue prior to 2006.

[RookieAddict]

Pretty cool project. Who are the 39 you need?

[KurtisCards]

I'm collecting every rookie card of any player that has had a significant thing happen in their career (ws rings, As, milestones, for example.), or story behind them (untimely death, or legal issues, and what not)

I'm also curious as to which you are missing.

[PKIPP]

That is impressive to say the least.

[boston12]

Wow that’s impressive. What are your top 5? How do you go about storing them and tracking them?

[3XDAD]

I really like this idea! I have thought about putting together an all Rookie cup collection and I think it’s a big project. I can only imagine the time and effort you have put in this process. Congratulations! I am sure if you list the ones you need people will definitely help. I know I would look for ya. Good luck and let’s see some pics!


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[Raleigh504]

Congrats! That is really awesome. I need to start working on a sub-collection (thinking 1971 Topps set) in my collection once I clean up what I currently have.

[johnburris3]

I am missing 5 rookies from 1949...

1949 Bowman #224 Satchell Paige
1949 Leaf #54 Bobby Adams
1949 Leaf #66 Orval Grove
1949 Leaf #81 Whitey Kurowski
1949 Leaf #98 Hal Newhouser
1949 Leaf #108 Matt Batts

And 34 1952 Topps High Numbers

319 Al Walker
320 John Rutherford
326 George Shuba
328 Bob Borkowski
332 Tony Bartirome
334 Wilmer Mizell
338 Sal Yvars
342 Clem Labine
345 Sam White
348 Bob Kelly
353 Bob DelGreco
360 George Crowe
363 Dick Rozek
367 BobThorpe
369 Dick Groat
373 Jim Turner
374 Al Benton
378 Les Fusselman
379 Joe Rossi
380 Clem Koshorek
381 Milton Stock
382 Sam Jones
385 Herman Franks
386 Eddie Yuhas
392 Hoyt Wilhelm
396 Dick Williams
397 Forrest Main
399 Jim Fridley
402 Earl Harrist
403 Bill Miller
404 Dick Bradowski
406 Joe Nuxhall
407 Ed Mathews

[johnburris3]

I use the Huskins Baseball Rookie Card Guide(it's a published book)
https://www.rookiecardguide.com/updates and available on Amazon
The author created a pdf list for me of rookie cards by year which is how I have them organized.
I keep them in top loaders and super shoe boxes organized by year and alphabetical order within each year.

[johnburris3]

Pretty cool project. Who are the 39 you need?

I am missing 5 rookies from 1949...

1949 Bowman #224 Satchell Paige
1949 Leaf #54 Bobby Adams
1949 Leaf #66 Orval Grove
1949 Leaf #81 Whitey Kurowski
1949 Leaf #98 Hal Newhouser
1949 Leaf #108 Matt Batts

And 34 1952 Topps High Numbers

319 Al Walker
320 John Rutherford
326 George Shuba
328 Bob Borkowski
332 Tony Bartirome
334 Wilmer Mizell
338 Sal Yvars
342 Clem Labine
345 Sam White
348 Bob Kelly
353 Bob DelGreco
360 George Crowe
363 Dick Rozek
367 BobThorpe
369 Dick Groat
373 Jim Turner
374 Al Benton
378 Les Fusselman
379 Joe Rossi
380 Clem Koshorek
381 Milton Stock
382 Sam Jones
385 Herman Franks
386 Eddie Yuhas
392 Hoyt Wilhelm
396 Dick Williams
397 Forrest Main
399 Jim Fridley
402 Earl Harrist
403 Bill Miller
404 Dick Bradowski
406 Joe Nuxhall
407 Ed Mathews

[johnburris3]

Wow that’s impressive. What are your top 5? How do you go about storing them and tracking them?

Top 5?...I guess as far as being iconic, expensive and difficult to obtain it would be

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle
1951 Bowman Willie Mays
1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson
1963 Topps Pete Rose
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente

[johnburris3]

Wow that’s impressive. What are your top 5? How do you go about storing them and tracking them?

Forgot to completely answer the question

I use the Huskins Baseball Rookie Card Guide(it's a published book)
https://www.rookiecardguide.com/updates and available on Amazon
The author created a pdf list for me of rookie cards by year which is how I have them organized.

I printed out the list, put it in a huge binder and then went through each year and card manually checking them off so I know which cards I have.

I keep them in top loaders and super shoe boxes organized by year and alphabetical order within each year.

[NoleinJax]

So you have 11,897 rookies? Holy crap what a insane (in a good way) collection that would be awesome to view in a museum type atmosphere.

[johnburris3]

So you have 11,897 rookies? Holy crap what a insane (in a good way) collection that would be awesome to view in a museum type atmosphere.

Yes and no.
Those 11,897 rookies are players and as you know a lot of years there were multiple rookies on a single card, so the actual number of cards would be lower.

But, because of years with rookie cards for players in multiple brands and variations, I have over 23,000 different rookie cards.

[green4407]

Yes and no.
Those 11,897 rookies are players and as you know a lot of years there were multiple rookies on a single card, so the actual number of cards would be lower.

But, because of years with rookie cards for players in multiple brands and variations, I have over 23,000 different rookie cards.

Pick up any of those 39 yet?

Thanks for the book reference, the author looks to have the same definition of RC as I like to use. Just ordered it and it will arrive Saturday. Then I'll get to sorting and checking off the list.

[pewe]

Forgot to completely answer the question



I use the Huskins Baseball Rookie Card Guide(it's a published book)

https://www.rookiecardguide.com/updates and available on Amazon

The author created a pdf list for me of rookie cards by year which is how I have them organized.



I printed out the list, put it in a huge binder and then went through each year and card manually checking them off so I know which cards I have.



I keep them in top loaders and super shoe boxes organized by year and alphabetical order within each year.



I’m trying to figure out how he thinks of a player like Alvarez this year... Topps not putting a RC designation on any of his cards, and holding that to 2020, to drive product.

But he has had cards released this year from things like Topps Online/On demand and sets like Bowman Chrome / Best (where he is in the prospects check list).

So I think he is saying the prospect check list is the killer for Alvarez in Bowman Chrome / Best (even though that product has lots of pro players, too)

What about those Topps on demand offerings? Not considered “official releases”? Or will that become the future source for RC that we may not be emphasizing enough, today?


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[Tapout57]

This is insane but awesome at the same time! Best of luck finding the rest

[dashcol]

I’m trying to figure out how he thinks of a player like Alvarez this year... Topps not putting a RC designation on any of his cards, and holding that to 2020, to drive product.

But he has had cards released this year from things like Topps Online/On demand and sets like Bowman Chrome / Best (where he is in the prospects check list).

So I think he is saying the prospect check list is the killer for Alvarez in Bowman Chrome / Best (even though that product has lots of pro players, too)

What about those Topps on demand offerings? Not considered “official releases”? Or will that become the future source for RC that we may not be emphasizing enough, today?


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Online cards are not rookie cards.

From Baseballcardpedia - A players first card from a regular issued, fully licensed card set.

Regular issue means packs, not complete sets, not online only.

Beckett goes on to explain further that it must be licensed, nationally sold set, that focuses on CURRENT MLB players.

This rules out sets like Bowman Chrome, Bowman, Bowman Draft and Bowman’s Best out of the running for a players true RC as they focus on prospects not current MLB players. Yes there are vets, but that is not the focus.

It also puts A&G in a gray area as well, as there are a lot of non MLB players in the set, but hard to determine if the focus is current MLB players or all their oddball cards. IMO A&G is not a RC.

So anything that does not meet the requirements of a defined RC is a rookie year card, not a RC.

Topps has done a lot to confuse people on what a RC is because of the emblem, but traditionalists know what the answer and true RC is.

[Big35Hurt]

That's incredible. I collect rookies, but only of certain players and don't just limit to one of each. I don't mind having multiples of a 1975 George Brett Topps RC for example. Good luck on your quest!

[maconithappen]

Awesome project idea. If I open a box or pack of cards, I usually will try to keep the rookies that I get.

[smapdi]

Curious what you use for post-2006 guys who don't have a RC logo card.

As to all the competing, contradictory rules for what defines a rookie card different entities have staked out, it's silly. Use your own definition. Remember, the RC logo was just another financial entity trying to claim ownership of something individuals created organically, for free, over decades in the hobby. That they refuse to definitively state an unchanging definition of how they decide to use the logo is evidence that they did not and do not intend to remove confusion from the marketplace, despite that being their primary claim.

[bradu]

Yes and no. Yours is FAR more complete and in depth than mine. But for my PC, I do try to collect at least 1 of every rookie, within my reasonable budget. Pre 1970 is pretty much out of my budget. But 70's-90's I try to collect 1 rookie of each key player in each sport. And more current guys I try to pick them up too but I really didn't follow anything but hockey from about mid 90's to a few years ago, so I don't worry too much about that era because I'm just not as familiar with the players.

I always find it a bit strange that more people don't collect like this. Stick to rookies, try to get one of each player.

[ThoseBackPages]

i love collecting rookie cards