Rookie Card Confusion

[EvanD]

It looks like in current products there are cards designated as rookies from guys who were actually rookies in the 2011/12 season.

Can someone explain this to me?

Is this due in part to the lockout?

I've been out of collecting for a little while and remember all of the weirdness in the lockout 1998/98 season regarding rookies.

[Jtoole]

This years rookie class is actually this year and last years rookies due to the lockout. Seems confusing but until Hoops released this year, there were no rookie autos of players from the 2011 Draft since there was no rookie photo shoot in 2011.

[EvanD]

That's what I thought, thanks very much. Now are there rookie redemption cards from the 2011/12 products that would be considered true rookies or are those XRCs?

[Jtoole]

For the redemption cards, the XRC cards are for the 2011 Draft and the Pick # X cards are for the 2012 Draft. I would personally call both of these rookie cards even though the 2011's weren't released during their rookie season.

[ohiomike]

That's what I thought, thanks very much. Now are there rookie redemption cards from the 2011/12 products that would be considered true rookies or are those XRCs?

They are insert cards, and inserts aren't considered true RC cards. Panini COULD HAVE made the 2011 Draft class have true RC cards in last years products, but because they decided not to release many products they made sure to not only make them inserts but number them with "XRC" in the # (even though I don't think technically they are even that) so that they could have products this year with a double RC class. It is definitely a controversial move, but also definitely a smart business decision. To me, its no different than 1988-89 Fleer rookies, almost all of which were actual rookies in 1987-88 or before. If a "2nd year" RC card is good enough for Hall of Famers like Scottie Pippen and Reggie Miller, its good enough for last years draft class.

[Yaga]

Personally, I consider the 2011/12 redemptions to be true rookie cards. I have one of each of the 3 Kyries, and I'm not touching a 2012/13 Kyrie... in my opinion, those are second year cards. His rookie season was 2011/12, and these cards are from a 2011/12 set, so to me, they are the rookies.

I honestly think that Panini has delayed these redemptions soooo much, so that they can hype up their 2012/13 double rookie class plan.