Quote:
Originally Posted by Rookiemonster
I fully understand how things have changed over the years. The reason for the rookie shield was because people didn’t know what to call a true rookie. Yes because people were calling guys first cards a rookie even before they ever played a game. But the truth of the matter is there is a hobby definition of what a rookie card is. Jeter had cards in 1992 so are these his rookies? Is a card print 3 years after a player retired his last card?
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No, people knew what rookie cards were. The hobby agreed on it in the early 80s. It is new collectors who have decided to try to change the definition. A rookie card is the first card issued in a nationally distributed major league set. It is pretty simple.
Jeter had minor league cards in 1992. His first major league cards are 1993, Topps, Score, Pinnacle, Upper Deck, SP and Stadium.
For example Carl Yastrzemski's RC is 1960 Topps not 1961 Topps even though he didn't play in the majors until 1961.
Eddie Murray's RC is 1978 Topps not the 1977 Orioles team issue because that is a regional.
Delino DeShields RC is 1990 Leaf (and other brands) not 1988 OPC because OPC was not issued in the USA.
The real confusion came when MLB said companies couldn't issue cards before a player's debut in 2006. This was because Topps signed players instead of signing with the Players Association. So Upper Deck and Playoff rarely had rookie cards in their sets. Topps got around this ruling in their Bowman sets by still making prospects but numbering them as inserts. Collectors at the time treated them as rookie cards, such as the 2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout. Newer collectors were confused and believed what Topps told them that the 2011 Topps Mike Trout was his RC. Topps pushed this narrative because it allowed them to sell more cards.
So, no the rookie shield isn't because people didn't know what the rookie is. It is because of a ruling in 2006 by MLB due to complaints from Upper Deck and Playoff about Topps almost monopoly on producing rookie cards.