I can follow your logic there, but I think there's a big difference between something like Kraft Dinner, and Tim Horton's cards. One is a pack, one is the back of a box. One you MUST buy food with, the other is simply cheaper if you buy food. They also differ from boxsets, so something like Ovation (at least I don't think so) has never been regarded as a RC either.
As far as I know - Most consider McDonalds and/or Tim Horton's cards (that otherwise fit the definition) to be RCs, but the rest, they do not.
Yeah, I don't think "who" released them is the important thing. It's not even a quantity thing that makes one absolutely more valuable than the other.... but desirability. More desirable = more valuable. Often rarity will factor into that.... hence why 90-91 OPC Premier get a bump in value vs UD... but in 91-92 when they're not nearly as rare, they don't.
I'm reasonably certain Beckett just uses a formula, with some input from actual sales data. Why a card is worth $50, and not $55 or $60? Because similar cards of similar players sold for $50. If an Eichel YG books for $X, and I estimate that McDavid will be twice as in demand, it books for $2X, if I think Matthews will be about 50% more demand it books for $1.5X, etc.
I doubt it. I think such a small percentage of collectors actually treat Beckett with much seriousness anymore. If they told me that a 91-92 UD Lidstrom was worth $5, and the Parkhurst was worth $10: Honestly, I'm still just going to pick up the one I like better.
Yeah, so ITG & Leaf have both done lots of Junior cards, with autos & memorabilia (though UD has gotten into it now too). Why didn't UD? Well, I think for the same reason that ITG stopped making licensed NHL cards: They didn't have a license.
Once upon a time, UD did have a license with them (of some kind). With national federations too - hence the inclusion of lots of WJC cards in the 90s.
Looking at stuff from the 00's (and 10's). McDavid jerseys /autos (and Crosby) from sets like ITG Heroes & Prospects, still sell very well.... and for sure, ITG sold stuff like crazy those years, as they had a jump on UD for making cards of those players.
The important thing there, is NHL licensed sets. If that Score Lindros rookie in 90-91 existed... but as part of an OHL (or CHL) set - it wouldn't be a rookie card; it's a rookie card because it's in an NHL licensed set, despite being shown as a member of the Generals. Same thing with all the WJC & POE rookie cards from most the 90s. Look at the checklist for 96-97 UD. There are "star rookies" (this was during the time when UD didn't actually make cards called "Young Guns") that includes guys like Steve Sullivan.... there are base cards that are also RCs (just no special label) like Mike Greir... and then there are program of excellence cards, with the likes of Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau: Showing them as members of Team Canada, when they were 17.
Today - there is no reason that UD can't include a card of a guy wearing a Team Canada jersey, or even his OHL sweater (they do have that license) but they can ONLY include him if he's a member of the NHLPA (or alumni) if they're putting them into an NHL licensed set. 17 years old, and not in the PA yet? Can't be part of an NHL set anymore.
