What is Josh Gibson's TRUE rookie card

[uniquebaseballcards]

This post has a nice harmony to it.

I think the emphasis is on sets rather than players when it comes to pre-war cards, I always thought pre-war to be more "pure" in terms of collecting than today.

1931 Harrison Studio Josh Gibson Postcard (considered by many not to be a card)
1950-51 Toleteros: (vastly over-rated tribute card released three years after his death)
1974 Laughlin Old-Time Black Baseball Stars (first depiction of Gibson released with pack and gum)

Everyone has a different definition of what constitutes a rookie card. If you venture over to the pre-war side of things, not too many people give a hoot.

My personal definition devised by me, according to my own standards is this....a "rookie" card is just that, a card from either A.) his rookie year and/or B.) his earliest minor league issue.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle? Not a rookie. 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan? Not a rookie. 1981 Donruss Golf Jack Niklaus? Not a rookie. However, I consider both the 1980 Charlotte Ripken and 1982 Topps, Donruss, Fleer Ripken cards as rookies.

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

I don't believe non-MLB cards can be a RCs. A LOT of people think the same way. That's the only reason I made this tread. His first regularly issued MLB card was 1993. I'm not saying it IS a RC, but it's interesting enough to bring up. SO many great examples have been brought up, the 1933 Goudey RCs, the 1989 Chuck Noll RC, the 2004-05 Bill Barilko RC, the 1986-87 Michael Jordan RC, the 1981 Jack Nicklaus, the 2001 Ichiro Suzukis and the list goes on and on. There is much gray area surrounding RCs, but one major guideline I stick to is the card must be licensed by the MLB, NFL, NHL, or the NBA in a non-"greats" (a set containing current at the time players) set to be a RC. And since when does a discussion have an immediate conclusion? I thought this was a message board, not Yahoo Answers.

What about the 83 Donruss? Going by the very rigid definitions, I think it fits as well as the 93 Ted Williams. I don't know very much about the Laughlin, but I don't think that set had current MLBers in it.

It was an All-Time Greats set with no current for it's time MLers.

It is part of the 1983 Donruss base set, no?

 

[sportscardtheory]

It is part of the 1983 Donruss base set, no?

It was a separate set released in packs, but only contained Hall of Famers.

 

[IndyManning18]

Josh Gibson entered a dream I had last night. He said to tell the kid, and I quote, "I don't have a Rookie Card!"

 

[gracecollector]

Most of this thread hurt my brain, but a serious question since I don't know...

Were the 83 Ted Williams company cards issued NATIONALLY, or just regionally? I've seen the boxes and know they were issued in packs, but I don't remember ever seeing them for sale at any of the places I bought cards in 1983 (drug stores, candy shops, Kmart, etc.) in the Chicagoland area. If it was a regional issue, and using the strict definitions defined by the OP, then this would be an XRC and not an RC, and the RC (as defined by OP) would go to 1999 UD Century Legends (a mainstream set, licensed, pack issued, featuring contemporary players).

Just wondering, as I don't remember how Williams Card Company was distributed. Anyone know?

Also, I couldn't wrap my head around why contemporary players were necessary in the OP's definition of a RC, as the player in question was retired (not to mention dead) at the time of product release. I think the 84 Donruss would qualify (I loved opening packs of that issue back in the day! The original "Diamond Kings!")

 

[Sweetness]

IMO - In the gibson case, since he never played in the mlb he would not have a "true rc card", I guess. I would consider the first card that featured him in the ***** league would be the closest thing to a rc card he has.

One thing I dont understand is the ruth arguement. How is the 1914 "considered" an rc be cause it wasnt a mlb card.

Im adding this tread to my "things that make you go hmmmm..." list.

And I know everyone will jump up my azz. But I like the current rc rule. RC year = Rookie season. I think its stupid for a player to have an rc card when they havnt hit the bigs yet.



By the way... :grouphug: