Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisLet's review the "ROOKIE" card phenomena. In the early to mid-1970's, BB card collectors were not
really caught up in the rookie card "craze". As I recall it, it started with the "hype" on this card in
1979 - 1980 time period in this hobby. Funny, I never understood at the time why his real 1st card,
the 1951 BOWMAN....was ignored.
About the same time, this rookie craze was compounded by Pete Rose running a 44-game hitting
streak challenge to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game record. And, Rose's 1963 Topps card jumped overnite
from $5 to $50....and, kept climbing to $500 during the mid 1980's.
And just as we thought the hobby had classified most of the Rookie, or 1st cards, then controversy
raised it's ugly head with advent of the Grading Co. in the mid '90s. Was the "1948" LEAF (actually 1949)
Jackie Robinson his real rookie card ?
But, what about his 1947 Homogenized Bond Bread card ? Although, this is not considered a major BB
card issue, it did have a widespread distribution. Ditto, for Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, and several other
players' 1st cards in this set.
And, then we have the never ending debates on the Rookie cards of Leroy "Satchell" Paige (Leaf vs
Bowman). And, Ty Cobb....Postcard vs E90-1 card vs T206 card.
1949 LEAF
1949 BOWMAN
1907 Dietsche Postcard
1908 E90-1 card
I have a moderate collection of what I consider are 1st cards (I include PCL cards as valid rookies);
but, I don't really get carried away with these cards in my type set. So, let's "re-hash" the Rookie
or 1st card debate....or if your "take", on this topic is different than mine (as stated)....let's hear it ?
TED Z