Best database for finding card information?
 

Hello all! Like I said in my intro, I've been out of the game for a long time.

My focus right now is a RC/auto/relic (if a relic exists) of every member of the baseball HOF.

Modern cards are easy to determine rookies. A lot of the prewar guys...not so much. Especially with all the regional/odd ball sets out there, I'm having a hard time determining what I should consider what a "rookie" is for a given player.

What's the best site you've all found to simplify the search/decision making?

https://oldcardboard.com/ref/rookies/RookiesList.asp

Phil Garry, "Collecting Hall of Fame Rookie Cards," Old Cardboard Magazine, Issue #21 (Fall 2009, p. 29-34)

Phil Garry is on net54...

Because every thread should have a card, here is a later printing of the m114 Red Schoendienst "rookie card". There are four printings of this version of his m114 and I believe this one was NOT the first one printed, but I'm still working to determine which one was.

Curses, evidently the work wifi doesn't want me looking at this right now lol I'll check it out when I get home in a bit. Thank you so much!

Here are the m114 rookies of Cuyler and Grimes, each have multiple versions, but I believe the caption variations here are the first ones printed.

Defining pre-war rookies is always fun.

Oversized stuff...picture packs...postcards...exhibits...premiums...silks/felts...pins...mail-in issues...tabletop game cards...etc etc

Regional issues vs national issues...etc etc

Once you get used to what's out there in the wild an absolutist will include the first thing made, period. Many people will make their own boundaries.

You'll get hard pushback on both sides of whether a 1932 Cubs Picture Pack "Billy Herman" is his RC vs 1933 Goudey "Billy Herman"...also for those that won't consider the 1932 Picture Pack you'll find more argument about whether a regional issue like 1933 Tattoo Orbit is also a RC with the 1933 Goudey.

It's something to talk about, at least.

TCDB.com is a crowd sourced website. Just type in the players name and you'll see all of their cards. It doesn't note the "rookie" card but with some players what's considered the "rookie" card is argued about based on the printing date of the card, card manufacturer, etc. In some cases the first card is actually more difficult to track down than the "rookie" card.

Answer is ‘32 Denby Cigars Herman

I would accept that, but I own a 1932 Cubs Picture Pack and therefore reject it. Mumble, grumble, something about postcards not counting... Harrumph Harrumph...ha.

Seriously, though. I do own a 1932 Cubs Picture Pack, but I don't consider it part of my Cubs *card* collection which is strictly non-oversized. I do include regional issues and I have a personal love of tabletop game cards and count them as real cards...though some don't.

Herman's representative card in my Cubs personal collection is his 1941 Double Play because I love 1941 Double Play and it allows me to have cards 1-4 of that set without intentionally doubling up both players in my collection (shared with Stan Hack, which I have 1935 Diamond Stars...who's "first" is a 1932 Cubs Picture Pack...go figure).

I try to avoid needlessly doubling players in my collection with the exception of Lon Warneke (1933 Delong player card, 1955 Bowman umpire card) and a short run of 1962-1964 Ken Hubbs RC-to-InMemorandum cards.

Absolute first is cool, but it leads to an interesting assortment of "stuff" for a collection...which is also cool, but not how I collect.

My issue is, I know thr adhd hamster in my mond thats running on a giant wheel fueled by red bull and bourbon will stop and every pretty csrd in existence if I can afford it lol

Crowd sourced but limited to what the mods define as "cards".

I had planned to post m114 info involving their release dates, but they wouldn't let me, even though they have some posted by others (some using my scans).