Which is the Johnny Mize Rookie?

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Posted By: Jason L

The 1936 R312 (his earliest issue)?
or
The 1941 Double Play (major issue, but he shared it (obviously))?
or
The 1948 Bowman (his first single card in a major issue)?

Thanks for the input

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Posted By: George Dreher

I would think that the R-312 would be his rookie card. Someone on eBay recently sold a newswire photo of him fielding from 1935 spring training with the Reds.

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Posted By: Phil Garry

Definitely the 1936 R312...........

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Posted By: Jason L

One of the reasons for my confusion is that SGC will often label the flip with the word "Rookie", but I don't see it on your R312, nor is it on my 48 Bowman...do you need to request that they include that on the label? or perhaps they aren't a definitive authority on identifying the Rookie Card of a player?
curious...

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Posted By: Phil Garry

They label some Rookie Cards as such but not always, I'm not sure what their determining factor is.

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Posted By: Rhett Yeakley

While not technically a card, Mize also is pictured on a 1936 Overland Candy Co. "wrapper"
-Rhett

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Posted By: boxingcardman

How about that; I actually have a rookie card...

But why is he wearing make-up?

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Posted By: Ed Ford

Does any one here own a Mize ? If so, could you show it. thanks

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Posted By: George Dreher

He's wearing make-up because he was Boy George's grandpa.
Seriously, he was a great guy. I met him and Willie Stargell in-person at the same event about 10 years before he passed away.

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Posted By: Jason L

Well, I am going to consider my 1948 Bowman his rookie, because:
1) I own it
2) I don't collect candy wrappers
3) I don't collect cards of men wearing make-up, and
4) I don't want to consider a multiple player card his rookie, but mostly, see #1!

also, please note, by no means do I mean to disparage anyone who may collect wrappers or cards of men wearing make-up.

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Posted By: Anthony

Jason-
This should take care of #2-4, but I can't help you on #1.

No makeup, no candy wrapper, no multiplayer card. 7 years before Bowman.

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Posted By: Jason L

very nice card (outstanding condition!), that one there....thanks for posting - never seen it before

But that really gums up the works, because as you say, my first condition is in the way...

Is there a definitive rule when it comes to identifying a player's rookie card?
because during the pre-war era it becomes difficult with many issues not being nationally distributed or from large companies, etc...
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I don't recall ever seeing a final answer...

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Posted By: Anthony

I think you can rationalize it any way you want. If you call a rookie card the first major league, nationally distributed non combo non premium card of a player, you're right back at '48 Bowman. If it's the first appearance of a player on a card, it would be the R312. Or this one if you want a regular card.
There are no rules- collect whatever makes you happy!

PS The Cards team issue isn't hard to find, and isn't expensive. And they are usually in very nice condition.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

And it isn't expensive at all.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Also, let's add the 1943 MP (R302-1) and the 1947 Homogenized Bond Bread cards of Johnny Mize
into the mix.

Anyhow, the 1936 R312 is Johnny's 1st card and the R312 is Joe DiMaggio's 1st Major League card.

TED Z

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Posted By: Anthony

I've found Brett Dumue's site to be very well researched and informative for questions such as these.

http://members.aol.com/metsbwd/hofers.html>

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Posted By: RayB

I would agree with any consensus here about first major league card = rookie card. I am definitely not fussy about it being a major card issue.

The R312 set (50 cards; or paper photos depending on how you look at it) were an in store give away Premium. Store owners gave these to kids when they brought back a batch of wrappers, likely National Chicle Diamond Star wrappers, in 1936.
Not only is the 36' R312 Premium the first card of Mize and DiMaggio but they are both sparkling images of the future HOF'ers.
The colorized look is a little disconcerting at first, but in person these cards are really cool. Looks great in that new SGC holder above.

Premiums were a very popular way to stimulate more gum card pack buying in the 30's and thereby stand, in my opinion as real baseball card collectibles.

As others said though, we all establish our own parameters for "rookie cards".
RayB