2010-11 Ice Rookies: RCs? Beckett Says No

[RGM81]

I had a pretty lengthy chat with Winston at the card show today - he's one of my favorites to talk to, and I'm pretty sure we could have continued for many more hours. One of the things that came up in the course of our conversation was the status of the Ice rookies that are inserted in this year's Black Diamond and SPx products. He told me that the good folks at Beckett have not tagged the rookies with the RC tag, which led to us chatting over whether or not they should be considered RCs.

I can see both sides of the argument:

Yes: even though they're an "insert" in another product, Victory Update rookies have always been considered RCs; Ice is a long-standing product in the hockey market with some of the most desirable RCs, particularly the /99 cards; they meet all other criteria.

No: they're an insert and not a stand-alone product. Victory Update counts because Victory has a standalone first release. This doesn't. Game. Set. Match. Point. Scott. Game Over.

Discuss.

[Tachyon]

Whats wrong with a Rookie Insert Set? People want Ice Rookies and this is how they get them. Whats wrong with that? They're selling pretty nicely on the bay as if they were True RCs. I am counting them as True RCs. If I want all the RCs of one player I am grabbing the Ice Premier RC. A true collector would want every variation. I think if true collectors and moderate collectors want them as RCs they should be considered True.

I could see them going for less because you basically get 1 more RC per box. That should be included in the price. Not like it's an actual gift, free to the Hockey Hobby Activist!

True RC.

[jagrnyr68]

i'd say they are True RC's, if theres base cards that come with them then are they considered inserts as well? seems unlikely, the base cards should be base and the RC's should be True RC's imo.

[centrehice]

I go by what the Manufacturer says, nobody else. As Beckett is not a manufacturer, they can rot.

Heaps of short printed Pacific Rookie cards from the late 90's are Rookies, Why? Because it was the first time Pacific printed them, and the last time I checked, they were a Hockey Card Manufacturer, with an NHL License to do so.

Beckett says no, but nobody is listening.

[30ranfordfan]

So after the success of these Ice RCs - does that mean that next year it'll be okay when Upper Deck makes "bonus packs" of Ice, Sweet Shot, Champs, Hot Prospects, MVP, Collector's Choice, Black, Fleer Ultra, and Powerplay.... and all of the rookies will be considered "true RCs" ??

When it was announced in the summer that manufacturers were limited to 11 releases each.... I assumed that meant that we'd have a limit of 22 RCs (depending on the set configuration) of each player. Apparently 11 releases means that so long as there is only 11 different types of packages.... Manufacturers can make as many rookie cards of a player as they want.

Personally, I say no. If I can't go purchase a box of Ice, then Ice is not a release for me. Not a release, not true RCs. To me they are nothing more than insert cards, but packaged in a very unique way - compared to most other inserts.

This isn't to say that they are not nice cards, nor desirable to own. I was at my LCS yesterday, and wanted single packs of Black Diamond. They had to open a new box..... I asked if I could buy the Bonus Pack. I'd love to pull one of the big Oiler Rookies (though I didn't - I got an Alex Uxboom). Just becuase they're not Rookie Cards - doesn't mean they're not valuable.

[Mack26]

Wow grey lines here.

Pacific Complete from 02-03 does not have the rc tag

Rookie Update from 00-01 and 01-02 do

[PattyLafontaine]

I disagree with Beckett. Many of the UD lines had to be halted becuase Panini got licenses. Therefore I feel that had UD has the licenses they would have still produced the product and therefore the cards would have existed if not for the licensing.

Sure that means that there would be more rookie cards than the # of licensed products but I would argue that any line that had been previously issued as a standalone licensed line should have granted grandfathered status as a RC.

[JHEYKID]

No "RC" tag will kill the value of once highly sought after cards. Shame.

[jonpop]

I bet if you sent say, a Hall ice rookie to be sold on Beckett auctions a million to one they list it as a rookie.

[scottkoz20]

No: they're an insert and not a stand-alone product. Victory Update counts because Victory has a standalone first release. This doesn't. Game. Set. Match. Point. Scott. Game Over.

Discuss.

how did you know I'd be posting an argument for no!