That Philadelphia Phillies Pope Francis baseball card — it’s not a rookie card
By Ryan Cracknell | Hobby Editor
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the more notable stadium giveaways of 2015 with tonight’s game — Pope Francis I baseball cards.
But is it really a rookie card like it’s dubbed?
The special card coincides with the Pope’s planned visit to the city later in the September for the World Meeting of Families Congress. He will also celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in a private ceremony, among other activities.
The commemorative Pope Francis Phillies card isn’t being handed out as fans enter Citizens Bank Park, though. Rather, it’s available at the First Base and Third Base Kiosks.
The Pope Francis card looks like a fun piece with a definite late 1990s or early 2000s vibe to it. The bottom says that it’s a rookie card, an innocent nod to the hobby that does actually add to the presentation.
Whether Popes even have rookie cards is something that some might want to debate. Either way, this isn’t the first time that Pope Francis I has appeared on a baseball card. That came in 2013 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball where he is #217 in the base set.
Along with the base card, there are several mini parallels of varying rarities.
Other Popes with trading cards include Pope John Paul II, Pope Leo XIII and Pope Paul VI.
Since he will finally be playing in the “majors” when he visits our country and my city….yes it needs to be considered his rookie card. (LOL) Nice stuff…maybe I’ll get lucky and get him to autograph one for me. HA
Ryan–I enjoy your articles but I’m wondering where Chris is.
Ron Atkinson
It’ll be his first time in the Bigs, so yes it is a rookie card. The Allen & Ginter is just a European prospect card.
I would have figured him to be playing for the Angels not the Phillies.
The Pope is visiting Washington before Philadelphia, so the Nationals might put out their own superseding rookie card.
Imagine is today’s players only had one rookie card – the first distributed. That’s tough, but I vote for one from each company and not one from each set and subset of each company. This could bring us back to the days when all RCs were base and anyone could find them. I miss those days. Imagine a kid pulling a true Kris Bryant RC from a single pack bought at the store with his or her own money and not having to sellout for a hobby box.