I would like to know what counts as a "real" rookie card. One thing I think I know is that it can't be numbered too low, is that right? If I do a player search at beckett.com, are the cards that say RC behind them the true rookie cards or is this to simple?

Thanks
/Mikael

That is correct. The parallels that you see in various sets (Exclusives, HG, SPGU Gold, etc.) aren't classified as "true" RCs. The rule of thumb is that a card has to have wide distribution (i.e. Carey Price's Montreal Canadiens team set card from last year isn't considered an RC because you can only get it at the Bell Centre), is licensed (which is why ITG's cards aren't considered RCs), and various other criteria.

To add to what Richard said, it needs to be part of the base set and numbered as such (101-200 for example), inserts don't count, and if I'm not mistaken it can't be limited to any less than 99 copies. There is debate over what makes an RC an RC, and most people tend to follow whatever Beckett says. Purists would tell you any card of a player made in his rookie year counts as an RC, as is the case in most other sports. Hockey is the exception :)

In hockey, the first regular card produce in a base set is consirder the rookie card. All other are considered rookie year only. Becket make some mistake regarding rookie thys seam to place UD rookie checklist with 3 player as a RC card. Of course they are not.

In other sports, RC /25 will be considered a RC and will book more then the regular /99 RC. Not the case in hockey since they often book for far less even if they are numbered lower. Kind of weird but this actually come from the old school of collector. For instance O-Pee-Chee as made insert set in the 70 and those never were considered as rookie. I guess this was just carried over the years.

thanks for the help guys..

but if only the first regular card in a base set it classified as a true RC, are not all of these cards RCs even though beckett.com lists them as that:

2002-03 UD Artistic Impressions #92 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 UD Foundations #151 Henrik Zetterberg NF RC
2002-03 UD Mask Collection #162 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 UD Piece of History #128 Henrik Zetterberg HM RC
2002-03 UD Premier Collection #81 H.Zetterberg PATCH AU RC
2002-03 UD Top Shelf #127 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 Upper Deck #234 Henrik Zetterberg YG RC
2002-03 Upper Deck Classic Portraits #111 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 Upper Deck Honor Roll #151 Henrik Zetterberg JSY RC
2002-03 Upper Deck Rookie Update #168 H.Zetterberg RC/ G.Howe

or are all of these cards from different base sets??

I have the same question about Titanium which has a regular card and then one which says Retail. O-Pee-Chee also has a regular one and then one saying Factory Set, are these also different base sets?

Final question. I don't know the book value for this card but I've noticed that for this card, 2002-03 Upper Deck #234 Henrik Zetterberg YG RC, the sale price is very high, over $100. I don't really get that since it's not even numbered. Usually the non-numbered Zetterberg RCs sell for $10-15 so why is the price for the YG so high. I've seen for newer RCs of other players that is true also, seems like the YGs are price very high, why is that?

Thanks
/Mikael

To add to what Richard said, it needs to be part of the base set and numbered as such (101-200 for example), inserts don't count, and if I'm not mistaken it can't be limited to any less than 99 copies. There is debate over what makes an RC an RC, and most people tend to follow whatever Beckett says. Purists would tell you any card of a player made in his rookie year counts as an RC, as is the case in most other sports. Hockey is the exception :)

Kevin,
I think that would be wrong but not sure. If you remember the Titanium had rookie cards in the base set with some being very limited like in the teens. I believe they were considered true rookies. As the the Erik Cole rookie had less than 30 copies and booked $300 big ones.

p.s. Just pointing out that for a example. Not sure if other sets did that as it made it almost impossible to put the set together. Of course one guy did and had a heck of a time putting his master set together.

DON

2002-03 UD Artistic Impressions #92 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 UD Foundations #151 Henrik Zetterberg NF RC
2002-03 UD Mask Collection #162 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 UD Piece of History #128 Henrik Zetterberg HM RC
2002-03 UD Premier Collection #81 H.Zetterberg PATCH AU RC
2002-03 UD Top Shelf #127 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 Upper Deck #234 Henrik Zetterberg YG RC
2002-03 Upper Deck Classic Portraits #111 Henrik Zetterberg RC
2002-03 Upper Deck Honor Roll #151 Henrik Zetterberg JSY RC
2002-03 Upper Deck Rookie Update #168 H.Zetterberg RC/ G.Howe

If you pulled that off Beckett and it has the RC's behind them then it would be considered a rookie per se. If you have any questions just ask as we try to help but none of us know everything. Why it great to have a lot of members to share their knowledge.

DON

thanks, really appreciate your help.

what? do you guys not know everything?? now i'm a little disappointed :winking0071:

I'm glad for the help I get, you certainly know more then me :ashamed0001:

Yes I pulled the list from beckett.com so I guess it's accurate then.

Still curiouse about the YGs though, why are prices so high?

Thanks
/Mikael

Because they are short printed, and very popular.

But according to beckett.com they are not short printed, because I guess short printed is the same as being numbered like #/50, or no? The ones found in 2002-03 UD are not numbered at all and that's why I was curiouse why they would have such a high price. Would the popularity alone make the Zetterberg YG RC go for $100 more than his other un-numbered RCs?

I'll throw in a little more info....

The YGs are short printed, compared to the rest of the set. You normally only get 6 per box (average). They're not numbered... so I've got no idea how many actual copies are made.... but the set is always very popular, and the shorter print runs keep their values high.

To answer your question about those Zetterberg Rookies, they're all part of different base sets. 'UD Foundations' and 'UD Mask Collection' (as an example) are different sets. Both made by Upper Deck, but different packs.

I'll throw in a little more info....

The YGs are short printed, compared to the rest of the set. You normally only get 6 per box (average). They're not numbered... so I've got no idea how many actual copies are made.... but the set is always very popular, and the shorter print runs keep their values high.

To answer your question about those Zetterberg Rookies, they're all part of different base sets. 'UD Foundations' and 'UD Mask Collection' (as an example) are different sets. Both made by Upper Deck, but different packs.

Thank you very much, that really helped!

/Mikael