A Rare Find

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by Jamessingh1992

2020 is not his rookie year simple. The debut actually counts. How can you be a rookie in any league if you haven't played yet? Anything before that counts as a prospect.

Originally Posted by Gene

Because your playing debut doesn't matter for the Japanese market. That's why the 2020 issues have the RC shield. You are trying to apply U.S. market conventions to the Japanese market, but no matter what you think, they consider the 2020 cards to be his RCs.

I would have to agree here. You are attempting to apply a U.S. Hobby Standard to another countries market. Ultimately its up to how that market see's it. This was actually the entire reason the MLBA/MLB decided to make this rule in 2005. The different companies were attempting to have a competitive advantage by releasing cards as soon as possible. Topps with their Bowman product, Upper Deck with their USA Baseball product and Donruss with their Elite product. It became confusing for the consumer and they decided to do something about it. So that rule came into effect, everything prior to their actual MLB debut was considered a "Prospect" card and couldn't use the "RC" logo until then. Of course now the problem is Topps with their licensing exclusive waits until the following year many times.

Now that's not saying the video game card doesn't have value. There are many,many obscure cards from 1986-1988 of Bo Jackson that go for big money.