Thoughts on a Don Hoak..

[jgmp123]

Guys,

I finally found a Don Hoak auto at a decent price to add to the 55' Dodgers collection...I know that I certainly haven't seen enough to know so, thoughts on authenticity??

[Republicaninmass]

Here mine, not too sure on yours

http://caimages.collectors.com/psaimages/1114/17644307/img281.jpg

[mr2686]

It's not a "classic" Don Hoak, but I have seen a couple that were similiar that got authenticated. I don't know if it's just hurried or a much later auto style but you can really tell in the H by the way he comes around more in a circle instead of the sharp crossing pattern as seen in the example above. Personally I'd pass unless desperate to get it or you collect Phillies etc. I think you can find other nice examples, if not on a Dodger card, then a 3x5 or AP. I was fortunate enough to find a 55 bowman signed for my 55 Dodger project, but had to settle for a 3x5 for the 60 Pirates.

[mr2686]

Sent you a PM re: the seller of that item.

[Exhibitman]

This is more thought than anyone has given to Don Hoak in the past, except perhaps for Mrs. Hoak.

[jgmp123]

This is more thought than anyone has given to Don Hoak in the past, except perhaps for Mrs. Hoak.

Touché! My interest in mainly because he is basically the only signature I have left to complete the 55' Dodgers. I have yet to find him at a decent price.

[mr2686]

This is what happens when you're on two beloved championship teams and you die young. Clem Labine was on the same two teams but lived a good long life and also did shows so his auto is dirt cheap on just about any item. I think there's only about 8 guys from the 55 team still alive, and Lasorda just had a heart attack.

[jgmp123]

I idiotically didn't take the offer to meet for breakfast and talk baseball with Carl Erskine about 6 years ago....something I have regretted since. My wife and I had just gotten married and were in the process of moving into a new home and I didn't take him up on his offer after writing to him.

Carl lives in Anderson, Indiana about 40 miles from me and is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. I recently wrote him again telling him about the 55' Dodgers project I started up and to see if that offer still stood.

That team was filled with great guys who loved their fans!

[Jay Wolt]

This is more thought than anyone has given to Don Hoak in the past, except perhaps for Mrs. Hoak.

Don Hoak did get some notoriety in the movie City Slickers when his name was mentioned

[JimStinson]

Here is an in-person signed Don Hoak from 1955. Top left. Also some of the rest of the 1955 gang. Hope this helps

[mr2686]

Don Hoak did get some notoriety in the movie City Slickers when his name was mentioned

From City Slickers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYw7S_RJXGs

[Scott Garner]

From City Slickers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYw7S_RJXGs

Mike,
That youtube clip was hysterical. Don Hoak did indeed get his moment.
Awesome!

[pooh528]

The seller is Roger Till of Vintage Sports out of Lewistown, IL (vintagesportsbb on amazon). Stay far far away.

[jgmp123]

Carl,

That's what I keep hearing....Still amazed me that Amazon let's this guy peddles his crap on there site. He has a ton of stuff on there.

[pooh528]

I am on another board and a guy wants to spend a bunch of money with this guy. Despite the fact he has for sale virtually complete sets of signed 1967-1969 topps cards (with all the toughies) and has multiple Chico Ruiz, Minnie Rojas, Dick Farrell, Jerry May, Don Hoak, and the list goers on and on., and the Tills' history, he is still convinced they are real and wants to purchase. All I can do is warn, can't make people not spend their money

Here is the link to his amazon website and you can see the junk he sells

http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sellerID=A3IMKDGMK7W3RR

[jgmp123]

Carl,

You've done all you can with that guy....I assume you've already told him about this thread and I am sure that didn't change his mind either.....terrible.

[mr2686]

Carl, you're absolutely correct. How do I know? Well, I came across his stuff about 2.5 years ago and found signed magazines of Maris, Allie Reynolds, and Gil McDougald that I needed for my collection. Heck, he had a ton of other stuff too like Stengel, Dimaggio, Mantle etc. From the scans they all looked pretty good and I must admit I fell under the greed of trying to get them before other board members found out about them. I was at least smart enough to make sure I could return them if I got them authenticated, so I sent the Maris and Reynolds to Richard Simon and he confirmed they were fake. At that point I looked at the McDougald with a magnifying glass and could see that it looked bad too. So, I was out the shipping and authentication fees (I just ate the McDougald since it wasn't worth the cost of having it authenticated) and chalked it up to a lesson learned.
Please feel free to point that person you mentioned to this thread, and if he still wants to buy, then there's no helping him.

[jgmp123]

Mike,

Thanks for posting that story. Man...This Don Hoak thread continues to add value...:D:D:D

[pooh528]

Let's just say I'm not only the Hair Club president, but I'm also a client, if you get my drift

[jgmp123]

Okay, so just wanted to send an update that I finally found the Don Hoak I was looking for...and at a great price.

Now Campanella is the only Dodger left to complete the 55' Dodgers...Wish me luck!

[mr2686]

Congrats, and indeed it was a great price. Are you planning on a pre or post accident auto of Campanella?

[jgmp123]

Mike,

Not sure yet...Probably going to depend a lot on price...:)

[mr2686]

James, just be careful. I believe there are some out there (even authenticated ones) that are "Best Wishes Roy Campanella" that are stamps.
Theres a good example on Ebay of a stamped HOF postcard right now.

[jgmp123]

Saw that...Couldn't believe bids are still quite high on even the stamped signatures...Maybe people assume that after the accident, he primarily used a stamp and they see that as authentic..whatever the case, not what i'm looking for...:D