My Hobby Blog Story of the Month details my first experience with Bo Jackson’s 1987 Topps Future Stars Rookie Card, number 170.
To fully understand why I am going on this explorative journey to answer the question posed in the title of this cardboard article, I have to share four crucial details about my first couple of weeks as a new collector in the hobby.
During my first couple of weeks as a new collector:
I had no idea that my new hobby was a part of a connective ecosystem of collectors.
I did not understand general hobby nomenclatures such as base, insert, or rookie cards.
If I had to rate my hobby knowledge on a scale of 1 to 10, it would have been a zero.
I had an undeniable love for collecting cardboard!
Now that you know what my first couple of weeks as a new collector looked, sounded, and felt like, you are probably wondering what my favorite rookie card is...? If I had to answer this question in 1991, the clear frontrunner would have been Bo Jackson's 1987 Topps Future Stars rookie card #170.
Why Bo?—The Back Story
In the summer of 1991, my two older brothers (Pete and Daniel) decided to show me their cardboard collection. As my brothers pulled the neatly stacked cards from their sneaker boxes, I instantly fell in love with "the hobby" as they revealed each of their most prized cards to me. During this memorable cardboard reveal, the first cards my brothers shared with me were their PC collections of Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan. As they revealed each of their Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan cards to me, the visual imagery on each card made my eyes grow bigger, and my heart became overcome with joy as my brother's excitement increased with each reveal. However, as they laid their cards neatly on the bed for me to see and not touch, one card in particular that they both had in their PC stood out to me—yup, you guessed correctly, it was the 1987 Topps, Bo Jackson Future Stars #170.
When I got my first pack of 80s baseball cards, I desperately wanted to pull a Topps Future Stars Bo Jackson card because my brother's infatuation for their version of this classic rookie card was memorable, contagious, and nostalgic—but it never happened.
No Bo!—But My 1st Year of Collecting was Magical!
However, despite my infant knowledge of collecting and not pulling my favorite Bo Jackson rookie card, my first year of collecting cards was magical. During my first year of collecting, the only things that mattered most were going to Toys R Us to buy cards, collecting Bo Jackson and MJ cards, and making sure I had enough rubber bands to keep my cards organized. Yes, I know rubber bands are blasphemous today, but in 1991, it was about embracing the moment, collecting what I liked, and enjoying what became known as the "junk wax era."
To Bo or Not to Bo?—What's My Favorite Rookie Card?
Part of My Bo Jackson Rookie Card PC in 2024
So, is Bo Jackson's 1987 Topps Future Stars my favorite rookie card today? I don't know; however, the Bo Jackson cards pictured above exemplify my growth as a collector and commitment to my never-ending rookie card treasure hunt. More importantly, having the opportunity to physically touch and hold the cards pictured above allows me to recall and reminisce about my cardboard origin story—the time my brothers told me I could look but not touch their Bo Jackson PC!
What's my favorite rookie card today? Ask me in 1000 years!
Keep Collecting,
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What's your favorite rookie card? Please email me at thehobbyexperience12@gmail.com to share a picture of your favorite rookie card.
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