Introduction

This guide is a continuation of my guide entitled "How to Assemble a Meaningful Baseball Card Collection."  In that guide, I mentioned how the world of card collecting has so many options.  Whether  you are a hobbyist or an investor, any given card collection can go in virtually any different direction.  One of the steps to building a meaningful collection (in my opinion), is collecting what you like.  This would involve choosing a line of interest such as hall of famer cards, modern day cards, vintage cards, rookie cards, favorite player/team cards, favorite brand and so on.  This guide is to pull together the main ideas and pointers of putting together a quality rookie card collection.  Again, in my opinion, I tend to see more of a market for rookie cards in today's hobby.  You can see 2 possible reasons for this trend based on the 2 different perspectives of both a hobbyist and an investor...and you can see a synthesized perspective of someone like myself.  The hobbyist can see this trend and say that rookie card collections are one of the most common branches of card collecting.  The investor can say that since the demand is higher for rookie cards, the rookie cards are where the money is.  And someone such as myself can say that rookie cards are desirable because they carry a wide variety of both interest and value to the collector's world.  There are a few things that I think can help kick in a rookie card collection into high gear.  These sub-topics offer both an investor and hobbyist perspective.  I hope you enjoy reading this guide and find it helpful in making your rookie card collection more clearly defined to you. 

Understanding Risk Factors in the Market

The most important thing that people need to know about a rookie card collection is that it can be a very hit and miss game.  There are a few key characteristics in determining risk factors. 

• In collecting present day rookie player's cards, there is always a chance that the player might not actually become what he has been talked up to be.  In other words, you might spend $100 on a card of a player who you've heard is going to be great someday, only to have him blow his pitching arm out in spring training.  You're now left with a nice common set filler card-instead of that cornerstone to your collection!  On the same hand you see this guy's career take off in a matter of a little time and all of a sudden you have yourself a mini retirement fund building right before your eyes!  Modern day rookie card collections of players like Alex Gordon and Justin Upton are obviously high risk/high reward simply because the players have not played enough to establish themselves as the all-stars that scouts have predicted for years. 
• Collecting established current player cards.  Take for example Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and Johan Santana...these guys are forces in the game today and so there is an obvious desire for their rookie cards among collectors.  The risk involved here is minimal...these guys are already all-stars and so you won't be getting the rush that you might feel from finding a diamond in the rough card of one of these players.  The reward with these cards is more long term because someday long down the road someone will pay big money for one of these names.
• Vintage cards offer a very unique market.  I like to relate this market to savings bonds.  The interest is very slow but consistent.  Plus...they never really lose value.  You can purchase a Roger Maris Rookie card and know that you will essentially be able to get at least what you paid for it whenever you choose to sell it.  If you purchase a vintage rookie card, you technically have a different version of cash...one that carries a sentimental value far beyond what they typical C-Note might have.

Current Rookie's Cards

This group is in an odd way one of the most "fun."  It's like playing a slot machine that you know you'll win something on most of the time!  If you are one of those people who wants to get into this branch of rookie card collecting, the following information is for you. 

• Invest in Bowman/Bowman Chrome cards.  Bowman is a company (now owned by Topps) that is known across the hobby as the "home of the rookie card."  Starting in a set back in 1992, Bowman set the standard for cards with one of the most brilliant sets ever assembled.  Differing from their previous 3 years, the 92 set offered collectors a premium version and limited print run of the most current rookies and prospects of that time.  The 1992 Bowman Set has become a standard in collecting today and ever since that year, Bowman has been the first set that collectors turn to while seeking out the most promising players of the future.  Bowman Chrome offers a premium version that is preferred by many collectors over the regular Bowman base cards.
• Take serious notes on players and research their playing time.  Ryan Shealy was considered one of the top prospects in the Colorado Rockies system since 2003.  One persistent problem stood between Shealy and collector appeal and his name was Todd Helton.  Rookies will rarely overtake an established veteran's position on a team and will carry a top value as high as an exceptional utility player's cards can get.  Keep close tabs these players if he gets traded or moves into the lineup because of an injury. 
• Take chances on players who you know will get playing time.  Ryan Zimmerman is one of the best examples I can think of to solidify this point.  Everyone knows he's the 3rd basemen of the present and the future for the Washington Nationals-therefore the validity of his cards will retain value and interest from collectors.  The Bowman Chrome Autograph cards offer everything you want in a rookie card, including serious price spiking rates and amazing eye appeal.

• Find inside information on players.  If you know something that not a lot of people know, than use that to gage your investing strategies.  For example...many people have heard of Mets prospect Lastings Millage but don't consider his most sought out rookie card to be of a serious demand.  A few more of those same people might make the choice to invest if they knew that the Mets turned down a deal with the Phillies to get Bobby Abreu at the trade deadline because they wouldn't part with Millage.  Moral of the story = read a lot and keep up on the most current news on players if you want to invest in the high risk/high reward bracket. 

Present Day Rookie Cards

• You'll have to go back a few years to find these cards but it might be worth it for your kids someday!  Vladamir Guerrero is one of the top players in the game today so you might be interested in finding his rookie cards and more players like him to target.  Everyone knows the superstars of today so maybe your rookie card collection can take this easy route and be defined as current-established rookies. 

• The reason why these cards are sold is because people either need money or aren't very patient.  Finding a player's rookie card can be fun because the value is up and down given the player's individual performance and the team's given success.  Right now, you can find great deals on Guerrero's cards because the Angels are a forgotten past in the 2006 playoff picture.  Maybe it would be a good idea to postpone the purchasing of that Pujols card since the Cardinals are on a postseason role!  Play the market and wait for the good deals on these cards...there's no hurry.

Players of Your Time

• This idea was mentioned in my guide on meaningful collections and makes a great topic here.  An excellent way to define your rookie card collection is to pick the player of your time and purchase their rookie cards.  My favorites of my time include Ryne Sandberg, Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith and Roger Clemens.  These guys are sure Hall-of Famers and will carry a nice return and a nice sentimental value. 
• With fewer players to pick from, you can afford to go all out and find the most unique and most expensive cards that each player has.  Go into the minor league cards for some of these guys if you wish, or make a purchase such as the rare 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens card (assuming you are from my time!).  There aren't too many of these cards available anymore and what better hands to they belong in that those of a true Clemens fan?!

• This type of rookie card collection combines hobby and investing.  These cards carry solid re-sale value and great worth for collectors.  They are the Hondas of card collecting so to speak!

Vintage Rookie Cards

• Vintage card collecting features some of the hobby's most holy grail cards from anyone's perspective.  These are the cards for the people who love the game and the history of the game.  If you are thinking about starting a Vintage rookie card collection for hobby reasons you have a list of players to dip into that is vast!  Take a look at the retired numbers at your hometown ballpark the next time you're there for a good start.
• New Vintage rookie card collectors should take a few notes on some key situations. 

1. Vintage cards sometimes have different grading scales.  Beckett Grading Services (BGS) has a Vintage grading scale that is advertised as being a bit more lenient on grades.  A BGS grade of a 5 on a Vintage card might not be that EX- Mint that you've been looking for in ungraded form.
2. Take into account historical information on the cards you target.  Take into the consideration this...the US Baby Boom was between the years of 1946-1964.  Given the prime years of players who were playing while these baby boomers were old enough to be interested in baseball -you have a bracket of 1954ish-1964.  Why is this important?  I figure that these baby boomers are entering their retirement years now and might have extra time to start a hobby and might have a bit more money to spend on nostalgic items such as vintage baseball cards of the guys of THEIR TIME.  Any player from these years would be a great card to target.  You have the first topps years (which is the ONLY brand of Vintage rookie cards that I would buy) to choose from.  Take fan favorites like Harmon Killebrew and Roberto Clemente and start there. 

   3.  It's always an easy bet that players from the Yankees and the old Brooklyn Dodgers will carry more of an interest as well. 

Conclusion

Now that you have some specific pathways to choose from, you can pick something and go with it.  And if you are one of these people who thinks that I have listed 3 genuinely interesting directions, then pick all of them and jump right in to the entire world of rookie cards!   You will be pleasantly surprised at how good of a collection you can assemble of JUST rookie cards.  You will quickly realize that your collection will be something to be proud of and show off for all of your friends and your kids someday. 

If you enjoyed this guide, I also encourage you to visit my other guide that discuses collections as a whole...How to Assemble a Meaningful Baseball Card Collection