Rookie card

Rookie Card is a relatively subjective term generally referring to an athlete's first appearance on a trading card made for collectible or informational purposes. Collectors value more greatly these first appearances which generally hold more value than later, subsequent card issues. Debate within the hobby exists as some believe that an athlete's first appearance on any trading card qualifies as his rookie card. Others believe that a rookie card is the first licensed issue from a major manufacturer that is widely distributed. There can be more than one rookie card for a player.

This debate was exemplified when in 2001, Upper Deck, a trading card company, created a set of golf cards which featured Tiger Woods. However, Woods already had many cards from other manufacturers such as Sports Illustrated which included a young Tiger in a 1996 edition of their Sports Illustrated for Kids periodical which routinely contains trading cards of various athletes. "SI Kids" cards have perforated edges and are normally unlicensed by the athlete. Hobby publication Beckett gave the 2001 Upper Deck Golf card a rookie card designation despite its arrival five years after the Sports Illustrated for Kids release sparking controversy.

The market, it appears, gives far greater credence and value to the 1996 Sports Illustrated for Kids release which sells for exponentially more. As it remains, there is no formal definition of rookie card though some players do have cards that are considered "rookies" by all.

Generally, a safe definition of rookie card is any trading card manufactured prior to or during an athlete's rookie year. This can come in a variety of formats including packs, boxes, sets, magazines, and more.

ee also

*Baseball card

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