"True" Rookie Card Help.

Jaames · May 22, 2012

I see the term True Rookie around all the time but I never know what certain players True RC is. Maybe a few of you guys could help me with these players.

Patrick Ewing
Walt Frazier
Shaq
LeBron James
Kobe Bryant
Dennis Rodman
Carmelo Anthony
Magic Johnson

Verse1 · May 22, 2012

The newer players true rc's are the base vesion of their rookie year cards so lebrons exquisite true rc is the #/99 rap. Obviously with newer players they have many true rc's due to all the different brands and sets etc.

drob50 · May 22, 2012

The term 'true' rc is more commonly used when talking about the later/more recent players because of the introduction or parallels and alternate card types. For example, in 09/10 there would be dozens of RC's of James Harden, but the 'True' ones people refer to SHOULD be the first releases of him. The argument starts when it comes to different brands etc. For example, with Harden, the UD Draft Edition would be one of the first of him, however he wasn't in NBA uniform, so I would personally say the first would be the first in NBA uni. Even then, you have 09/10 UD first edition, 09/10 UD, 09/10 Topps and 09/10 Panini. The first release from each brand should be considered their 'true' rc and you can choose which you like better??

With the older players, there wasn't many, if any, card companies going around so the first that DID produce that player would be considered their RC

Looking at Jordan, he was drafted in 84, but they didn;t produce a card until 86/87 Fleer, so that is his RC, same with Ewing, he was drafted in 85, but again, 86/87 Fleer is his RC!

Here are some of the easier ones to identify (I think), the rest would be a matter of working out all of the NON PARALLEL/GU/AUTO cards and finding out which was released first!

Patrick Ewing - 86/87 Fleer #32
Walt Frazier - 69/70 Topps #98
Shaq - 92/93 Fleer #401
LeBron James -
Kobe Bryant -
Dennis Rodman - 88/89 Fleer #43
Carmelo Anthony -
Magic Johnson - I think his first RC was a triple with Bird and Erving???

Matty4292 · May 22, 2012

As a former Melo collector, his true RC, in my opinion, is the 03/04 Topps Chrome #113

It is arguable, but when I think Melo RC that is what comes to my head (aside from Exquisite RPA)

Cobretti · May 22, 2012

and people hate base cards.

shame on you shame they are the tru rookie haha.

Matty4292 · May 22, 2012

Cobretti said:
and people hate base cards.

shame on you shame they are the tru rookie haha.

Was that aimed at me?

I love base RC's especially graded ones!

Cobretti · May 22, 2012

Matty4292 said:
Was that aimed at me?

I love base RC's especially graded ones!

nah not anyone, just general hate towards those you hate base haha.

Mico · May 22, 2012

drob50 said:
Looking at Jordan, he was drafted in 84, but they didn;t produce a card until 86/87 Fleer, so that is his RC, same with Ewing, he was drafted in 85, but again, 86/87 Fleer is his RC!

What about his Star rookie? Or is the Star release technically not counted as a true release?

drob50 · May 22, 2012

Mico said:
What about his Star rookie? Or is the Star release technically not counted as a true release?

My understanding is that people didn't include these because they were not 'pack pulls' as such. They were sold as 'team sets' or 'event sets' in little bags. They weren't actually wax that was opened like the 86-97 Fleer was!

I could be wrong, but I think that is why they don't include it!

taffster74 · May 23, 2012

Star was a released on a regional distribution not mass produced. In essence, if you lived in New york (and couldn't be bothered taking a few rail trips), you could only get New York Team bags during the star period.

WoobieZarz · May 23, 2012

I think TRUE RC and RC are one in the same.

To say that one card is a TRUE RC, and another is just a RC because it was released a week later (eg) is nuts.

I mean, look at Jason Kidd's 94-95 releases...

Now, I don't have a full list, but at a guess there was Collectors Choice, Ultra, Hoops, Fleer, Flair, Finest, UD (who had multiple releases), Skybox, Emotion, etc, etc. Kidd must have had a dozen or so RCs. I'd have considered ALL of these to be a TRUE RCs, all be it, parallels and sub-sets (eg Collectors Choice Blue Prints, Silver/Gold Signatures, etc). I wouldnt have thought it would be the first card to represent him, because wouldnt Classic be his first TRUE RC?

taffster74 · May 23, 2012

Technically, TRue RC's are the first base card of a player in a product which signifies their first appearance on cardboard for an nba team. so that means that - regardless of when the product was released during the season, the first base card for a RC year player is their true RC.

WoobieZarz · May 23, 2012

So multiples per year depending on amount of releases? Is that what you're saying? (pretty much what I said).

Matty4292 · May 23, 2012

I look at true RC's as anything marked with the little 'RC' icon on Beckett.com

For example, of these, both are rookie year releases but technically only the Certified is true RC

WoobieZarz · May 23, 2012

^ Yep, I'd agree with that. The other is more like an "insert" or something, not part of the regular base set.

Matty4292 · May 23, 2012

Taz_Cardz said:
^ Yep, I'd agree with that. The other is more like an "insert" or something, not part of the regular base set.

Exactly!

Another example is 09-10 UD... Ty Lawson's "Star Rookies" base card is a true RC but his Signature Collection auto is not.

taffster74 · May 23, 2012

TazCards, yeah - exactly. You used Jason Kidd as an example, so i'll use Jalen rose as an Example.... Here's all of his "True"RC cards...

1994-95 Collector's Choice #238
1994-95 Collector's Choice International -German #238
Topps embossed #113
Emotion #25
Finest #258
Flair #207
Fleer #276
Hoops #320
Jam Session #50
Skybox Premium #224
SP #13
Stadium Club #260
Topps #378
Ultra #234
Upper Deck #159

Jason Kidd would have pretty much the same except you'd have to add in his SP Championship RC as well as the other international language releases (CC Spanish, Italian, French, Japanese).

taffster74 · May 23, 2012

With the STar Co. cards.... any players who had their first appearance on those cards have those cards classified as XRC's - Extended RC's as they weren't a major distribution release.

drob50 · May 23, 2012

Matty4292 said:
Exactly!

Another example is 09-10 UD... Ty Lawson's "Star Rookies" base card is a true RC but his Signature Collection auto is not.

Ahhh, but what about the "star rookie" gold version?? It is exactly the same card, but the team logo in the corner is gold instead of silver. It is considered a parallel.

Also, I would have to say that the Cousy Certified ISN'T considered a 'true' rc becuase it is the Gold Parallel version!

I think it is fair to say that the first and base rc from EACH release should be considered a true rc, but not variants.

Matty4292 · May 23, 2012

drob50 said:
Ahhh, but what about the "star rookie" gold version?? It is exactly the same card, but the team logo in the corner is gold instead of silver. It is considered a parallel.

Also, I would have to say that the Cousy Certified ISN'T considered a 'true' rc becuase it is the Gold Parallel version!

I think it is fair to say that the first and base rc from EACH release should be considered a true rc, but not variants.

That's what I was getting at... but I only have the Totally Gold as an example lol

Here we go I've got one...

Yes - True RC

Yes - True RC

No! - Not True RC

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