When did the rookie card phenomena start

[Rich Klein]

Jerry's post about CPU pushing Rookie cards to the next level is correct but the RC phenomenon had actually begun in 1977 when Mark Fidrych RC came out and people were bidding for that card.

But that was an one-off until 1979.

Rich

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Jerry's post about CPU pushing Rookie cards to the next level is correct but the RC phenomenon had actually begun in 1977 when Mark Fidrych RC came out and people were bidding for that card.

But that was an one-off until 1979.

Rich

Rich, if you want to be technical, it started in 1974 with the Aaron RC when he broke Ruth's HR record.

[Rich Klein]

I was not yet in the hobby in 1974 when the Aaron boom hit, however; the Fidrych (and probably Lynn and Rice in 75 in the Boston Area) was certainly a card dealers were bidding on in 1977.

But the explosion did come with CPU and their hyping of RC's. And it certainly helped that Rickey Henderson had the year in 1980 at the same time his RC came out. After 1979/80 it was RC old and new out the door.

Rich

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I was not yet in the hobby in 1974 when the Aaron boom hit, however; the Fidrych (and probably Lynn and Rice in 75 in the Boston Area) was certainly a card dealers were bidding on in 1977.

But the explosion did come with CPU and their hyping of RC's. And it certainly helped that Rickey Henderson had the year in 1980 at the same time his RC came out. After 1979/80 it was RC old and new out the door.

Rich

In 1974, Aaron became a 10-20 dollar card overnight. I remember because my brother had one. Before that, I don't remember anything being more than 1.00. I was getting several mail order catalogs, but it is possible that they just didn't have certain cards like a 52 Mantle.

I don't know how much Fidrych was, but I don't recall mail order guys asking more for it. It is possible that it was hot, but it would have been a short time. Mark was hurt in preseason and didn't pitch in 1977 until May 27 and then was hurt again pitching his last game for the season July 12. I imagine if he had a 1976 card, it would have been a 1.00 card during the season.

Lynn and Rice were .15 and .20 in the 1st Beckett annual. Brett and Yount .08. Henderson and Valenzuela became 1.00 cards as rookies. I would put the 1979-1981 time period as when the rookie card really started taking hold. Although by 1981, Brett was a 10.00 card after his 1980 season, but Robin Yount was still .08 until he took off in his 1982 MVP season. By 1984, prospecting had taken hold with people buying 100 count lots of no name rookies hoping they would break out like Ryne Sandberg did in 1984.

[Rich Klein]

I don't have them anymore but there were a decent amount of ads in SCD and a few in TTS bidding on the Fidrych RC. I think after July that calmed down but the Bird was so popular that I suspect non baseball card collectors wanted that card as well.

Rich