John Smoltz 1988 Fleer Update Glossy his true Rookie card?

[sportscardtheory]

So for modern collectors, isn't the question really just, "What is the most expensive early card of player X?" The issue of what card is their rookie, "true" or otherwise is basically irrelevant in the hobby since the useless RC logo was introduced. Everyone should just be straight about exactly what they're trying to say. Plainly, no one asking the question actually wants the answer here to be Smoltz's 1989 cards because they are absolutely worthless.

That's not true at all. Most of his non-base cards from 1989 outsell his 1988 Fleer Update Glossy. His best card from '88-'89 is the 1989 Bowman Tiffany, second being 1989 Topps Tiffany.

 

[DaClyde]

That's not true at all. Most of his non-base cards from 1989 outsell his 1988 Fleer Update Glossy. His best card from '88-'89 is the 1989 Bowman Tiffany, second being 1989 Topps Tiffany.

So let me modify that and say "most". Any non-limited edition parallel type cards of his from 1989 are commons.

 

[sportscardtheory]

So let me modify that and say "most". Any non-limited edition parallel type cards of his from 1989 are commons.

You can say that about almost any '87-'89 base card.

 

[SINFULONE]

Dude had a crazy collection. And even after selling it all off he's probably broke today.

I heard a little about his collection.Hate to see him break it up.How often does PSA use a collector's name on the label?Why do they do that?Does BGS do that too?

 

[championMan]

So that Glossy auction card sold for $405 http://www.ebay.com/itm/351361289803

There is a Buy it Now & very few notice it because some buyers don’t bother with BIN search.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291418874348

The last 2 non glossy version sold over $100 http://www.ebay.com/itm/281618229899

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381218054880

I don't know about U but vintage Glossy & Tiffany are doing well.

 

[George_Calfas]

Dude had a crazy collection. And even after selling it all off he's probably broke today.

Or this....

He says one of the main reasons he's selling his cards is to use proceeds to fund the Dmitri D. Young foundation he just started. The foundation's aim, he says, is to help underprivileged kids in the Ventura County, Calif., area play baseball by offering MLB-style instruction, equipment, funding for travel teams and life instruction. He says it is time to give back to the community.

 

[smapdi]

I heard a little about his collection.Hate to see him break it up.How often does PSA use a collector's name on the label?Why do they do that?Does BGS do that too?

Aside from the Gretzky/McNall Wagner, that's the only time I can recall them adding that info to the flip. CGC, the comic book grading company, has had several of what they call "pedigree" collections, where you have the name of the collector or the find name on it. The "Gaines File Copy" books were actually owned by Bill Gaines, the publisher of Mad Magazine, where he'd pluck a book right off the printer and file it away. Or the "Mile High" books, which were this huge and incredible trove of books in Denver that were collected by a man every week for decades through the Golden and Silver ages, read once, then carefully filed away. I think the Nic Cage collection also had a special designation.

I think it's pretty neat, and adds to the history of a card, as long as it isn't abused. Some hardcore collectors scoff at a lot of the pedigrees they've designated, like ones that are 50 books or so, which are neat but nothing really earth-shaking. Young's collection would qualify for it, I'd say, as he had super-premium copies of every post-WWII RC plus a lot of other notable cards (including his own, which I really wanted but it ended up going for over $200, IIRC, which is still a lot for a Dmitri Young card).

I don't recall any other card graders having something like this. Space is limited on a card flip, but I'm sure they'd figure something out for the right person, and the right price.

 

[chippercards.com]

I remember about a decade ago, Dmitri bought a 1982 Donruss Ripken PSA 10 off me, guessing maybe he got that re-labeled with this collection I remember his ebay ID was "peacedaddy" or something like that. Back when ebay used to let you see full user ID's. I thought it especially interesting as he had me ship the card to his attention at the Reds Stadium! Seemed like a nice, thoughtful guy. Pretty compelling to sell off his collection to fund something community-focused about which he is passionate. Peace Daddy is right. Great guy in my book.