Rookie Cards

Every year it seems like card companies jump the gun to produce rookie cards, relying on awkward studio photographs instead of live action shots. Upper Deck's Young Guns cards found in Series 2 packs seem to be the recent noticeable exception - a major benefit for collectors of Jeff Skinner's rookie cards. While searching eBay for cards of recent Hurricanes signee Anthony Stewart (@Astew22), I came across this "gem." Although most non-action rookie cards are seemingly shot in a studio, this particular card looks like it was shot in the hallway by an Upper Deck intern using his camera phone - maybe Stewart himself can shed some light on the photo's origin?

Considering the poor quality of these photos, I decided to hold off and wait to grab one of the first Stewart cards in a Hurricanes jersey, which will inevitably be available in 2011-12 packs. However, I did pickup this Zach Boychuk autographed rookie card (# /999). Although it's a non-action shot, SP went "the extra mile" to give Boychuk a Hurricanes hat for the shoot - a nice touch, although I would have preferred for SP to have waited and used an action shot instead.

Below, I've posted a few more Hurricanes rookie cards, which showcase some exceptionally bad haircuts (Staal and Cole) and another look for Stewart (think high school yearbook).