Yea makes no sense and wasn't that way until MLB and Topps created this RC logo, I believe. Which again, to me shows it's just a marketing tool. I feel that collectors should recognize their first cards as RC's as has been done forever. The 1992 Rivera, the 1993 Jeters, the 1985 Olympic McGwire, 1991 Chipper Jones, 1995 Vladimir Guerreros, 1999 Josh Hamiltons (debut 2007!) etc... There is a long and widely accepted view as those players first cards constituting their rookie cards.

Why do collectors now discount cards issued years before to a players RC logo card, which often doesn't even coincide with their MLB debut year. Makes no sense at all.

Arron Judge has tons of issues from 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Four full years of cards produced by major card producers with major leaguers in the sets. Now everyone has to flock to the 2017 (5th year!) issues to get a "Rookie" because it's been stamped with the logo?

Successful marketing for sure I guess!

Again, it's his 5th year of having major baseball card releases...that's half a decade of cards already!

I could understand saying anything issued before his ML Debut is now considered a prerookie. That would at least be a new, consistent rule. But that isn't the case.

And it bring this back into the original point of the thread, the RC Logo is as much of an artificial manufactured marketing ploy as the "Faux gum damaged back".

I think over time collectors will hopefully sort out the true genuinely significant cards more as opposed to all the manufactured and contrived silliness that permeates the current hobby.

Exactly!

And to complicate this mess a little more... check this out... ( think this could be a sleeper card, btw, I already bought a few so I'm good. I'd rather the N54 community buy up a couple first if I'm right.) The only 2016 Judge issued by Topps Stadium Club with the fabled and sought after RC Logo! I'm not sure how many people even realize this card exists. It was part of a limited 3 card Yankee team set as a prize for Yankees Legacy Club members. I think only certain season ticket holders could get it. There's also a Gary Sanchez and the other card is Ellsbury.

Too bad his face is obscured though.

Yea, would definitely be better if it was a solo card with better photo. Still cool being from the big back to back homer moment of debut game.

It is simply not possible to have a 2016 and a 2017 RC. LOL.

Yeah I know. They created this RC logo to be specific to a certain year, I thought anyways? Then they have this obscure Judge 2016 RC, but every 2017 is also supposedly a RC.

I can't make any sense of it.

I'll take the 2013 first year cards as Rookies myself. But I'm interested to see how everyone else views that 2016 with the RC logo and also the Topps nows as they were made on debut and post debut.

This meets my criteria for an RC in the modern age -- ML uniform, post big league debut, major manufacturer.