I agree. I wasn't endorsing the viewpoint but merely sharing it.
In the case of Clemente, it feels particular odd to me given that Topps is Topps and Kahn's Wieners is...Kahn's Wieners. Now were things reversed and Clemente had a 54 Kahn's Wieners but only a 55 Topps, I would definitely endorse the 54 as his true Rookie and the 55 Topps as his "major issue" RC.
Moving over to Mantle for a bit, that's kind of a tweener in that Bowman really was a major release, just not Topps. Still, I am in the camp that does not at all consider the 52T Mantle an RC. It's a spectacular card and a significant one to be sure, but to paraphrase Stan Lee, "1952 Topps Mickey Mantle...nuff said." I don't think it needs the RC label to underscore its prominence in the hobby.
Jason
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