Just like jupiterhill, I'm glad I stayed out of this one. But I didn't decide to do so, I just hadn't seen it yet. I won't get involved in the whole conversation. I just want to say one thing...
Topps NOW cards can't possibly be a true RC at all! First and foremost, they can't be bought in a pack or set of cards!!! They can only be bought individually directly from the company. I know there is no "definition" that describes that situation for a Rookie Card, but that's my definition. If it isn't their first base card (not subset card) in a set that's released in packs/boxes, it's not a RC. Topps found a way a few years ago to skirt around what MLB told them to do when defining a RC card and Topps/Bowman keeps pushing it further from what MLB wanted a decade ago. I'd almost bet money that Topps isn't the exclusive MLB licensee when their contract expires!
MLB was the company trying to discern what a RC was back at the turn of the century when everything of a player had a RC logo on it. They were tired of RC for a just-drafted player, then again when that player moved up a level in MiLB and then again when the player got a first game in the MLB. Then there was another RC card the next year when the player actually started playing for an MLB team of a regular basis. MLB started the current definition of a "Rookie Card", but didn't keep it in-check. They got lazy b/c they just didn't care anymore. Once they limited the companies producing cards, they thought it was good enough.
Oops, I posted about the whole thing! I can go on, but I won't (right now).
NO PWE's EVER!!! PLZ PM me 1st before sending any offer. ONLY selling cards as of March 2024. No trades or purchases right now.
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Largest total PC card collections by Team, then Athlete (as of 3/22/24):
STL Cardinals (MLB) - 8810; Carolina Panthers - 2888; GB Packers - 1790+ cards
Mark Martin (NASCAR) - 2038 cards; Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR) - 1875 cards; Jeff Gordon (NASCAR) - 1594; Ricky Rudd (NASCAR) - 839; Ozzie Smith (MLB) - 707