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mchenrycards
Featured Contributor, Vintage Corner, Senior Membe
Modern rookie collectors are certainly familiar with the never ending supply of Topps, Fleer and Donruss rookies from the early to mid-80’s. This time frame marked the first appearance on main stream card offerings from the Big Three for heavy hitters such as Ripken, Boggs, Gwynn and Cub fan favorite, Ryne Sandberg. When most collectors speak of rookie cards for these players it is these Big Three images of wax stained cardboard that most think of. But hard core rookie collectors as well as those who collect only these players know there are far greater yet tougher options for rookies of these hall of fame caliber athletes that are available. Let’s take a look at what alternate rookie cards are available for one popular player from the time when leg warmers and big hair where the norm.
Ryne Sandberg made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and gave no indication of the Hall of Fame player he was destined to be. Appearing in thirteen games, Sandberg had just six unremarkable at bats and managed only one hit while striking out once. Oddly enough, that one hit came in what would be his future home of Wrigley Field against the team he would soon be most identified with, the Chicago Cubs. Before spring training of 1982, Phillies General Manager Paul Owens made Sandberg a throw in to the trade that brought Ivan Dejesus to the Phillies in exchange for Sandberg and veteran shortstop Larry Bowa. It was this trade that would be the start of the rebuilding effort for new Cub’s General Manager and former Philly field manager Dallas Green’s building of a new traditional on Chicago’s north side.
The card companies did not recognize Sandberg to be a prospect in 1982 and who could blame them. Sandberg, who was originally hailed to be the Cub’s newest third base savior would go 0 for his first 32 plate appearances before going on to have a decent rookie season. It was not until 1983 that the big three card makers saw that Sandberg had enough upside to include him in their regular issue sets. The card manufacturers would go on to produce millions of Sandberg rookie cards, diluting an already saturated card market and leaving those who desired a little variety in their collection somewhat flat. If one wanted to collect a true non-main stream rookie card of Ryne Sandberg pictured in his big league uniform there would really only be one option.
With the start of the baseball card boom in the early 1980’s, card makers were not the only ones to jump into the cardboard fray. Sports teams saw baseball cards as a way to promote their team and sell tickets at the same time. Many teams scheduled baseball card days in hopes of tapping into the natural tie in between baseball and the now booming sports card market. Giving away sets of cards guaranteed the team a successful promotional event with thousands of extra tickets sold for that day’s game. The Cubs were one of the first teams to embrace this type of promotion and in 1983 baseball card day was a complete success with the first 10,000 fans through the gates being given a complete set of cards. This team issued set contained 28 cards that were sponsored by the Red Lobster restaurant chain with the cards being smaller than the normal Topps issues of the day. These cards featured a full bleed picture with the players name, position and facsimile autograph on the front with regular statistics and a rather large Red Lobster ad printed in black on the back. The size and quality of the card stock was not going to win the team many friends among collectors but the photography and player selection was well done. Included in this set were not only the rookie cards of Sandberg but the first card of star reliever Lee Smith. Smith had cards in the 1982 regular issue Topps, Fleer and Donruss sets but this issue would also be called a rookie card and if he ever finds his way to Cooperstown, could be a sleeper for collectors.
These cards are tough to find in great condition due to the fact the sets were tightly shrink wrapped and distributed to fans entering the gates. While creases are not much of an issue, finding any of these cards with sharp corners is a near impossibility. The shrink wrap was so tight on these sets that most cards had their corners slightly rounded, especially the top and bottom cards. Some sets have also been seen shrink wrapped with a rubber band around them under the wrap so edges may also be a challenge.
If condition was not enough of a challenge, scarcity for these sets also causes issues for those who desire to make the Red Lobster Sandberg a part of their collection. In their haste to obtain autographs or see what the cards looked like, many of these sets were cracked open by fans and left strew about the seating area making Wrigley Field look like Times Square on the day after New Years eve. The long and short of this set are that, while it is certainly easy to locate copies of the Sandberg Red Lobster rookie card, locating high quality examples are not very easy at all. PSA population reports show that only 89 Sandberg Red Lobster rookies have been graded with 26 being Gem mint and 33 being graded as mint condition. These Red Lobster population numbers certainly pale in comparison to the rookie cards that were produced for the Cubs Hall of Famer one year later by the big three card companies. Over 9000 cards have bene graded for the 1983 Topps offering with 391 of those cards residing in a gem mint 10 plastic tomb and 3200 cards being judged to be a PSA 9.
When looking on Ebay, pricing for the top end Sandberg Red Lobster rookies are all over board. PSA 9 examples have recently sold for as little as $50 while PSA 10 gem mint copies have sold in the area of $300. I have seen several sealed sets that can be had for a very reasonable price but due to the tight shrink wrapping you will be rolling the dice if you play the grading game with any of these cards.
Many collectors love to have mainstream rookies of their favorite player in their collection because of the easy access to these cards. Let’s face it, Topps makes a great deal of cards per year and obtaining a nice copy at a price that fits every collector’s budget is a very easy accomplishment. The Red Lobster Ryne Sandberg is an excellent example of why thinking outside of the rookie box can not only bring diversity to your collection but provide you with a very nice alternative to the mainstream hobby offerings. If you are willing to do your research you can find these types of hidden gems that will give your collection that extra star power that not everyone will have without breaking the bank or your collecting budget.
I would be curious to know what other non-main stream rookies are out in collectors hands. Please feel free to post pictures of what you have.
Ryne Sandberg made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and gave no indication of the Hall of Fame player he was destined to be. Appearing in thirteen games, Sandberg had just six unremarkable at bats and managed only one hit while striking out once. Oddly enough, that one hit came in what would be his future home of Wrigley Field against the team he would soon be most identified with, the Chicago Cubs. Before spring training of 1982, Phillies General Manager Paul Owens made Sandberg a throw in to the trade that brought Ivan Dejesus to the Phillies in exchange for Sandberg and veteran shortstop Larry Bowa. It was this trade that would be the start of the rebuilding effort for new Cub’s General Manager and former Philly field manager Dallas Green’s building of a new traditional on Chicago’s north side.
The card companies did not recognize Sandberg to be a prospect in 1982 and who could blame them. Sandberg, who was originally hailed to be the Cub’s newest third base savior would go 0 for his first 32 plate appearances before going on to have a decent rookie season. It was not until 1983 that the big three card makers saw that Sandberg had enough upside to include him in their regular issue sets. The card manufacturers would go on to produce millions of Sandberg rookie cards, diluting an already saturated card market and leaving those who desired a little variety in their collection somewhat flat. If one wanted to collect a true non-main stream rookie card of Ryne Sandberg pictured in his big league uniform there would really only be one option.
With the start of the baseball card boom in the early 1980’s, card makers were not the only ones to jump into the cardboard fray. Sports teams saw baseball cards as a way to promote their team and sell tickets at the same time. Many teams scheduled baseball card days in hopes of tapping into the natural tie in between baseball and the now booming sports card market. Giving away sets of cards guaranteed the team a successful promotional event with thousands of extra tickets sold for that day’s game. The Cubs were one of the first teams to embrace this type of promotion and in 1983 baseball card day was a complete success with the first 10,000 fans through the gates being given a complete set of cards. This team issued set contained 28 cards that were sponsored by the Red Lobster restaurant chain with the cards being smaller than the normal Topps issues of the day. These cards featured a full bleed picture with the players name, position and facsimile autograph on the front with regular statistics and a rather large Red Lobster ad printed in black on the back. The size and quality of the card stock was not going to win the team many friends among collectors but the photography and player selection was well done. Included in this set were not only the rookie cards of Sandberg but the first card of star reliever Lee Smith. Smith had cards in the 1982 regular issue Topps, Fleer and Donruss sets but this issue would also be called a rookie card and if he ever finds his way to Cooperstown, could be a sleeper for collectors.
These cards are tough to find in great condition due to the fact the sets were tightly shrink wrapped and distributed to fans entering the gates. While creases are not much of an issue, finding any of these cards with sharp corners is a near impossibility. The shrink wrap was so tight on these sets that most cards had their corners slightly rounded, especially the top and bottom cards. Some sets have also been seen shrink wrapped with a rubber band around them under the wrap so edges may also be a challenge.
If condition was not enough of a challenge, scarcity for these sets also causes issues for those who desire to make the Red Lobster Sandberg a part of their collection. In their haste to obtain autographs or see what the cards looked like, many of these sets were cracked open by fans and left strew about the seating area making Wrigley Field look like Times Square on the day after New Years eve. The long and short of this set are that, while it is certainly easy to locate copies of the Sandberg Red Lobster rookie card, locating high quality examples are not very easy at all. PSA population reports show that only 89 Sandberg Red Lobster rookies have been graded with 26 being Gem mint and 33 being graded as mint condition. These Red Lobster population numbers certainly pale in comparison to the rookie cards that were produced for the Cubs Hall of Famer one year later by the big three card companies. Over 9000 cards have bene graded for the 1983 Topps offering with 391 of those cards residing in a gem mint 10 plastic tomb and 3200 cards being judged to be a PSA 9.
When looking on Ebay, pricing for the top end Sandberg Red Lobster rookies are all over board. PSA 9 examples have recently sold for as little as $50 while PSA 10 gem mint copies have sold in the area of $300. I have seen several sealed sets that can be had for a very reasonable price but due to the tight shrink wrapping you will be rolling the dice if you play the grading game with any of these cards.
Many collectors love to have mainstream rookies of their favorite player in their collection because of the easy access to these cards. Let’s face it, Topps makes a great deal of cards per year and obtaining a nice copy at a price that fits every collector’s budget is a very easy accomplishment. The Red Lobster Ryne Sandberg is an excellent example of why thinking outside of the rookie box can not only bring diversity to your collection but provide you with a very nice alternative to the mainstream hobby offerings. If you are willing to do your research you can find these types of hidden gems that will give your collection that extra star power that not everyone will have without breaking the bank or your collecting budget.
I would be curious to know what other non-main stream rookies are out in collectors hands. Please feel free to post pictures of what you have.
