Description

This 105-card set was distributed exclusively in factory set form, 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 2001 DTR 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 also 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 in '01 DTR 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