
Iconic Rookies: 1979 Topps Rocky II #1 – Meet “Rocky” When most collectors hear “rookie,” they go straight to sports: Gretzky, Jordan, Brady, Trout. But if you hang around the non-sports side of the hobby long enough, you realize some of the most important rookies belong to characters, not athletes. The first time an iconic…

Iconic Rookies: 1981 Topps Indiana Jones #2 – Freelance Adventurer When people hear “rookie card,” they think Jordan, Gretzky, Trout, Wemby. But if you spend any time in the pop-culture trenches, you know that some of the real rookie cards belong to characters, not athletes. The first time a truly iconic character shows up on…

Quick Facts Card: 1980 Topps The Empire Strikes Back, Series 1 Number: #9 “Star File — Yoda” Series 1 Range: #1–#132 (S2: #133–#264, S3: #265–#352) Related Items: 1980 ESB Stickers (S1–S3), O-Pee-Chee (Canada) counterparts, U.K. issues Why It’s a Rookie: First widely distributed, pack-pulled base card of Yoda—Council standard for rookie designation. Why This Card…