2016 rookie class and the HOF
 

Maybe I'm not thinking of someone, the only players I come up with who have 2016 RCs and still have a chance are Trea Turner and Corey Seager. Both have nearly identical 36 WAR, not exactly compelling heading into their 10th years but not out of the realm. In contrast, Lindor just one year ahead has a nearly 50 WAR. Are there others? Thoughts on these two. Interestingly, the other 2015 guy in the running (Correa, 44 WAR) is also a shortstop. What's up with that?

Bregman has a higher WAR than Seager or Turner, but unless he makes a miraculous late career turnaround, is not Hall bound.

2017 RCs, no?

According to Baseball Reference, Bregman exceeded rookie limits during 2016 season.

Apparently all you need to be a Rookie is:
130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues.
or 45 total days on an active Major League roster during the Championship Season (excluding time on the Injured List)

Not a very high bar

Right, but I believe he does not have any official rookie cards in 2016 for whatever reason. Aaron Judge may be in the same boat?

Oh, I don't know how Rookie cards are defined, given that Bregman has cards going back to 2010.

He certainly has plenty of 2016 cards, but I have no idea if they are considered rookie cards: https://www.tcdb.com/Person.cfm/pid/...tName=&sBrand=

The official RCs have the RC logo on them. Anything earlier is considered a prospects or minor league issue. Sometimes it makes no sense.

Interesting. I didn't realize that Lindor was already at 50 WAR. I wouldn't be surprised if Mookie Betts is the guy who makes it to 100 -- and that Mike Trout doesn't make it all.

I think the problem with Turner is he has had two MVP caliber seasons. One cut short by Covid and the other split between two teams. A career of 4 WAR seasons isn't particularly inspiring. Coupled with longevity, though, it can make you a very valuable player.

Seager I think is more a case of staying healthy. He's put up near MVP numbers each of the last two seasons while missing 25% of his teams games. He is a year younger than Turner, so that would help too if he can put up another MVP caliber season or two and maybe 5 All-Star level seasons

Yeah Bregman's RC was in 2017, which is also his gold cup card as well.

Judge was in the major leagues when his 2016 Topps Now issues were released, but they aren't considered RCs. I figured part of that was to create interest in his 2017 cards.