General Forum

Is it safe to call it an RC seeing how Topps deems their updates as RC's ?

Or because it was obtainable in a complete set form that it will never receive rookie status?

Please share your thoughts and have a great day !

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In my mind, his base '89 RC with all the variations is his true Fleer RC. Nowadays, though, that term seems to mean very little.

During that era, though, there were various companies that had RCs in base sets and then put out updates and rookie sets, so it's definitely not unconventional.

I've always considered the first main issue the RC too. I remember they used to call the update or traded ones XRC. 
 

~jeremy

Beckett created (made up) the XRC term but discontinued its use after 1988.  Many in the hobby (myself included) do not recognize the XRC as being true Rookie Cards.

In my collection, I deem the first main issue base set card for the player the rookie card for that company.  Not sure if anyone cares or disagrees, but I would throw it out there to contribute to the conversation.

I've pretty much given up on the whole RC or non RC business.  Especially for baseball.  The fact that the 89 Fleer Update card of The Big Unit is a cool card to have in your collection is enough for me.  

The Donruss Rookie Phenoms 1992 Mike Piazza and the 1992 Fleer Update Piazza are considered RC's...When only one card was not part of a box set or an insert set...In my eyes, Piazza has only one RC and that is the 1992 Bowman...Change my mind...lol...

Thank-you for sharing your thoughts and view-points on this , I too remember quite well when the first "regular" issue would be deemed an rc , available in packs and not complete boxed sets or something of that sorts. Now it's a free for all and even autographs and jersey pieces carry rc tags (insert family feud buzzer sound) ultimately i'm not here to rewrite, bend nor break any rulings i just enjoy the hobby and it's evolutions. NOW what about Bowman and their umpteen prospect type issues ? Some guys have already had cards 5 years ago..............

Based on the agreement between card companies and the players union, in this case the Bowman cards would be the "first" cards, but the cards that shows up in the base set is the rookie card once they've actually been promoted to the major leagues / added to the 40-man roster.

Once the "update" sets became available in packs as well as in box sets, I think the concept of XRC went away.

Keep in mind the "XRC" concept only applied to cards issued from the previous year. This Randy Johnson Update card was never considered any kind of rookie card. Barry Bonds is one of the best examples of this - his Update/Traded cards were issued in 1986 and his cards (RCs) were first in packs in 1987.