2001 Donruss The Rookies
Description
2001 Donruss The Rookies is a 105-card factory set that was distributed via a unique redemption program. Randomly inserted into packs of 2001 Donruss Baseball -- at the rate of 1:72/packs -- was a coupon that allowed the bearer to purchase the 2001 Donruss The Rookies (DTR) set directly from Donruss-Playoff for $24.99. It is believed that 10,000 such coupons were inserted into packs of '01 Donruss, but neither the coupon, nor the set are serial numbered.
The July 2006 edition of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly estimates that 46,000 sets were produced; however some in The Hobby have disputed this figure, and claim that the actual figure is much lower. http://www.stalegum.com/2006/06/9200-pujols-rookie-diamond-kings-i.html
Each factory set included one of five Rookie Diamond King "inserts." The entire 105-card set, along with all five Rookie Diamond Kings, were also thrown into the Baseball's Best factory set.
The key rookie cards are of Mark Prior and Mark Teixeira. Both of these cards are notable as the Prior is one of only two non-short-printed rookie cards of the Cubs pitcher (the other is in Fleer Platinum XRC), and the Teixeira is his only non-SPed RC.
In addition to Prior, Teixeira, and just about every AA-level reliever and backup catcher you could possibly imagine, there are also big money cards of Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols. Since both Ichiro and Pujols were included in the regular Donruss set, neither are considered True rookie cards.
Checklist
Base Set
R1 Adam Dunn
R2 Ryan Dreese
R3 Bud Smith
R4 Tsuyoshi Shinjo
R5 Roy Oswalt
R6 Wilmy Caceres
R7 Willie Harris
R8 Andres Torres
R9 Brandon Knight
R10 Horacio Ramirez
R11 Benito Baez
R12 Jeremy Affeldt
R13 Ryan Jensen
R14 Casey Fossum
R15 Ramon Vazquez
R16 Dustan Mohr
R17 Saul Rivera
R18 Zach Day
R19 Erik Hiljus
R20 Cesar Crespo
R21 Wilson Guzman
R22 Travis Hafner
R23 Grant Balfour
R24 Johnny Estrada
R25 Morgan Ensberg
R26 Jack Wilson
R27 Aubrey Huff
R28 Endy Chavez
R29 Delvin James
R30 Michael Cuddyer
R31 Jason Michaels
R32 Martin Vargas
R33 Donaldo Mendez
R34 Jorge Julio
R35 Tim Spooneybarger
R36 Kurt Ainsworth
R37 Josh Fogg
R38 Brian Reith
R39 Rick Bauer
R40 Tim Redding
R41 Erick Almonte
R42 Juan A. Pena
R43 Ken Harvey
R44 David Brous
R45 Kevin Olsen
R46 Henry Mateo
R47 Nick Neugebauer
R48 Mike Penney
R49 Jay Gibbons
R50 Tim Christman
R51 Brandon Duckworth
R52 Brett Jodie
R53 Christian Parker
R54 Carlos Hernandez
R55 Brandon Larson
R56 Nick Punto
R57 Elpidio Guzman
R58 Joe Beimel
R59 Junior Spivey
R60 Will Ohman
R61 Brandon Lyon
R62 Stubby Clapp
R63 Justin Duichscherer
R64 Jimmy Rollins
R65 David Williams
R66 Craig Monroe
R67 Jose Acevedo
R68 Jason Jennings
R69 Josh Phelps
R70 Brian Roberts
R71 Claudio Vargas
R72 Adam Johnson
R73 Bart Miadich
R74 Juan Rivera
R75 Brad Voyles
R76 Nate Cornejo
R77 Juan Moreno
R78 Brian Rogers
R79 R. Rodriguez
R80 Geronimo Gil
R81 Joe Kennedy
R82 Kevin Joseph
R83 Josue Perez
R84 Victor Zambrano
R85 Josh Towers
R86 Mike Rivera
R87 Mark Prior
R88 Juan Cruz
R89 Dewon Brazelton
R90 Angel Berroa
R91 Mark Teixeira
R92 Cody Ransom
R93 Angel Santos
R94 Corky Miller
R95 Brandon Berger
R96 Corey Patterson
R97 Albert Pujols
R98 Josh Beckett
R99 C.C. Sabathia
R100 Alfonso Soriano
R101 Ben Sheets
R102 Rafael Soriano
R103 Wilson Betemit
R104 Ichiro Suzuki
R105 Jose Ortiz
Inserts
Rookie Diamond Kings
One of these five Rookie Diamond Kings was inserted into each factory set. The design is identical to the 2001 Donruss Diamond Kings, however these cards are not serial numbered.
The same issue of Beckett that estimates the production run of '01 DTR at 46,000 factory sets, also estimates that 9200 copies of each "RDK" were printed. Again, the figures quoted by Beckett have been disputed.
RDK1 C.C. Sabathia
RDK2 Tsuyoshi Shinjo
RDK3 Albert Pujols
RDK4 Roy Oswalt
RDK5 Ichiro Suzuki
