Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection
 

I stumbled on this in SCD this week:

http://www.profootballhof.com/hunt-c...ibit-to-open-/

There's two videos on the page along with the write up. I suspect every HOF rookie isn't the highest graded though - the Nagurski PSA 9 came to mind right away as one I don't think they have. The other thing I wondered is whether or not the collection is all mainstream - sounded like it. And if Joe Horrigan doesn't know a lot about football cards - I wonder if he scratched his head at all when they told him Namath was the most valuable and not Baugh or someone like that :)

very cool

I saw this. Impressive collection but definitely some inaccuracies in the article. There is no way that Namath is worth more than the PSA 9 Nags. Period. End of Story. Horrigan seems to have taken what they told him at face value without checking facts.

jeff

Hunt-Casterline
 

As one of the owners, I feel its only correct to respond.

Lets see the collection before throwing out your opinion.
The Nagurski 9 was never sold at auction, Therefore it is impossible to confirm an actual sale price.
In the last 6 months, Other football cards have privately sold for over 300K. Including a 1965 Namath PSA 9.
The true documented most valuable football card as of now is the 1957 Unitas.
It accurately sold at a recognized auction for 151K.

I am not sure what you mean by mainstream?
It is the All time Highest graded complete rookie card set along with thousands of other high graded rare cards.

Lets face it, The Nagurski is a great card. We have two Psa 8s in the collection, But it will never be a baseball Wagner. Time will really only tell if it ever shows up at auction. Then we would really know for sure.

Robert Casterline

It's undoubtedly a tremendous collection. I have the #4 Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame set and am in awe of your Cowboys set - which does have every Cowboys Hall of Famer in the highest grade available - let alone the rest of the collection.

I'm personally looking forward to going to see the display at the Hall of Fame and wanted to say thank you for putting a portion of the collection on public display.

This seems like an unnecessarily unfriendly reply to a thread that was sharing information on your collection. Which opinion offended you so much that you saw the need to join the board? I apologize if my post didn't stroke your ego enough, but I don't think I've ever been anything but friendly and encouraging towards other collectors - at least until now.

The website says:

Hunt and Casterline built an amazing assemblage of these rookie cards that includes the highest graded card available for each member of the Hall of Fame.

If the PSA 9 Nagurski isn’t in the collection, then the collection doesn’t contain the highest graded of every rookie card. That's not an opinion. It's an observation that there is a factual misstatement. Where do you even see an opinion on the collection in this thread other than complimentary ones?

By mainstream I meant some collectors aren’t all that excited by the hobby defined rookie cards. For example 1955 cards of Don Hutson and Benny Friedman aren’t exactly period pieces. I was wondering if there are items in the collection like those displayed in this thread:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=201392

Ultimately everyone should collect what makes them happy, regardless of the opinion of others, but for some collectors it isn’t about most expensive, for some it is. Good luck on getting the Nagurski - I hope you can pick it up for less than 151K - like you said there's no way to confirm the prior sale prices....

go see it
 

John

A small miss statement doesn't mean you need to pick apart the whole collection.
Yes, Joe from HOF meant highest rated set. Not every highest graded card.
Thank you for bringing that to our attention.
We are only missing a few.

Just go see it, Then comment.

Complete 1935 Chicle set-High grade.
Complete Mayo set
Complete psa 8 including checklist 1957 set.

My last post, So I will let you get the last word.

steve w

Thanks for complement.
It was really a major commitment that we are proud to share with fans.

Robert

Yes

As to your link.
The show includes


Complete 1931 Walker cleaner set in binder
Star candy cards
Mayfair candy cards
Spalding football cards
Nagurski Dixi ice cream lid PSA 8
Grange Shotwell cards
Kellogs cards
Complete Topps Magic photos

Its not so mainstream.

Robert, I don't see any of these mentioned in the link:

Complete 1931 Walker cleaner set in binder
Star candy cards
Mayfair candy cards
Spalding football cards
Nagurski Dixi ice cream lid PSA 8
Grange Shotwell cards
Kellogs cards
Complete Topps Magic photos

That's why I asked. Are others seeing these mentioned? I see this:

"Featured sets include the 1894 Mayo’s Cut Plug set, the first to focus solely on football players. Also included is the 36-card 1935 National Chicle Football Set, considered to be the “Holy Grail” of football sets, and the 1957 Topps Card Set that includes a “who’s who” of future Hall of Famers."

Mayo, Chicle, and 57 Topps which are all mainstream sets. I'm glad you mentioned those items are in there - that brings out information we wouldn't have had.

I don't think misstatements on the website are going to deter people from seeing the collection - that really wasn't my point - but the write-up had a few elements that weren't great, so I mentioned one of them - so what. The point was - here's an amazing collection on display at the HOF - take a look. But I don't think you got that as the point of my initial post.

Here are some statements I didn't mention from the website's write-up:

1. "A rookie card is not necessarily indicative of the player’s first year, but more specifically the first card issued with his likeness."

But that isn't what the HOF rookie set on the PSA registry is - those are all mainstream cards - the earliest is from '33 and there are some HOFers not represented which doesn't seem right - but I didn't mention any of that in my initial post because I wasn't trying to be negative.

2. "Most in the collector industry consider the 1965 JOE NAMATH rookie card as the single-most-valuable."

So that hinges on the fact that the Nagurski PSA 9 didn't sell at auction? - just seems like a technicality to me. Like it was brought up so your collection would have the most expensive card - who cares about that anyway? So I didn't mention that one either.

I'm glad you thanked Steve - that was a nice thing to do. If your first post had thanked me for starting a thread informing people (although a couple months late), that your collection was on display, I'm guessing the exchange would have been different.

Robert the collection is amazing! Thank you very much for putting it on display to the public.

We passed through Canton two weeks ago and it made for a great stop at the Hall of Fame. I will also add that the entire Hall is wonderful. They still have a bi to go to match the presentation at Cooperstown but it is light years ahead of where it was on my first visit in 1989.

The card collection is breath taking. Like well over 90 percent of collectors in this hobby I could care less about TPG's and slabs but the quality of these cards is magnificent.

Thanks again for making it available and congrats to the HOF for a great job.

Mike,

Really makes me happy to hear you enjoyed the collection. The designer hit a home rum when it came to putting the cards in-between glass.
I really had no idea how they were going to exhibit the cards.

I do understand the slab controversy, I just am happy they do it because otherwise I wouldn't want anyone touching my cards for any type of display.

I do agree that the HOF really is stepping it up, The Game of Life Hologram theater was amazing. It was my boys favorite thing to see. I think they are tired of my football cards and obsessive hobby.

Thank you again for kind words.

Robert

Robert, simply amazing the collection you've put together. How long will it be on display at the HOF?

The collection will display at HOF for 8 months, Then they are planning to travel it for 6-7 years.
Then it may end up staying at the HOF.
Interactive displays will be added along with another large group of cards.

Dan Hunt and I put together to be viewed and enjoyed. Were happy that we were able to do it prior to the big jump in card prices.

Thank you for complement.

Any plans to travel it to SoCal? I probably won't get to Ohio.

Does it have the 1926 Spalding Benny Friedman. I've not seen one in person.

I would love to see it go to Southern California.
No schedule has been set quite yet.
Don't have the 1926 Benny. Its a great card and same here, I haven't seen one in
person.

Robert, if I might inquire of a few things if you don't mind:

Did you collect cards growing up and come back to the hobby when you decided to assemble the collection with Mr. Hunt?

Any childhood favorites in the collection that you were particularly excited to acquire?

Any favorite cards in the set you'd like to share and what about them you enjoy the most?

It's always enlightening to hear about some of the personal touches in relation to the tremendous collection assembled. Thank you.

Steve

Wow!!

Great questions.
SMR is doing a 5 page article next month. I don't want to sound redundant, but I will answer the best I can.

I absolutely collected baseball and football. I would go to flea markets and talk to the older guys that collected for years.
I didn't buy packs in the 80s thank goodness and would save every penny to buy one good card like Ernie Banks rookie or a Frank Gifford rookie card.
Most would not have graded high, But I loved them and wanted to learn everything about their career.

Favorite
Ted Williams and Sandy Kofax 1957 cards.
Loved them more then anything.

My Terry Bradshaw rookie card
Paid 200.00
Probably would grade a PSA 3, But I saved for it and also loved it.

My collection now
Hmmm..

When I got my 1948 Bednarik PSA 8, I was the final card needed to have all cards in HOF set a PSA 8 and higher. It was bitter sweet because the journey was pretty much over, But the accomplishment was amazing.
Favorite cards
1935 Chicle..Cool as it gets.


I met Jimmy Johnson at the past HOF induction and got to talk to him about his career and Rookie card.
I said to him
It looked like you were holding a baby..
He couldn't stop laughing.

They are the best moments in everything that Dan Hunt and I have been able to do.

Cant tell you how much I appreciate these questions.
Thank you

That Friedman card is tough, tough, tough! Only card from his playing days that I'm aware of.

This is the area of "rookie" cards that I struggle with. Having a 1955 football card be considered someone's rookie card who last played in 1934 is a joke. I understand why the powers that be might have done this but it's still pretty ridiculous in my book.

jeff

Jeff

I agree that it is a true rookie card.
Do we know if the cards were distributed nationally or regionally?

I own a few, Not Friedman's.
They are probably one of the only cards that I think would be easily forged.
Black and white with thin paper.
Not trying to ignite an argument, But boy are the tiny cheap,thin pieces of paper.

I love the Spalding set because it has a few players you just can't find in any other set - most notably for me, Ed Weir, a great All American from Nebraska who was on the NFL Champions Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1926 with my father. I once owned the Grange from the set but sold it to a devoted collector - in part to buy a guitar and in part because I gave up getting the Friedman which would have completed the football set for me. I think it would be easy to spot counterfeits if you used a loupe and examined the half-tone pattern in the photo reproduction - it's an old style that would be hard to duplicate without a period printing press, in my opinion.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8474/2...045c804d_z.jpg

I have to content myself with just a scan of Friedman - another teammate of my dad on the Giants.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8428/2...8ee08d4aa1.jpg

I would love to see this collection at the Hall of Fame, but if not I hope to catch it in its travels. It would be nice if in the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the NFL the cards could spark some additional interest in the history of the pro game - especially the teams before WW II.

Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection
 

Robert, what an amazing undertaking and collection. I can't think of a better venue than the Hall of Fame for display.

In regards to the 1926 Spalding Football and the Friedman card - I acquired my 26 Friedman back in the late 80's. The card was really in rough shape and had a hole-punch in one corner (I think the cards could be redeemed for prizes as I have seen a number of hole-punched Spalding's over the years). I always thought I would be able to upgrade the card but never had the opportunity. Definitely one tough card!

I'm going to start a thread on the 26 Spalding set - I still have questions and don't want to derail the focus on the Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection -

We'll I always thought Ed Kabala got the best of me on when I traded him a 1934 Nagurski Diamond Matchbook (only known) for this Friedman (later graded by me).

I agree with Jeff. If a PSA-9 (which three exist and probably a few more) goes for $6910. What is a 1926 Spalding PSA-7 (29 years earlier) worth? Which card would you guys want in your collection if both were available.

I guess the there is more demand for the 1955 AA Friedman and it is "collectible" and can be sent in to PSA, etc for grading. Where my card is not collectible, sometimes you can outsmart the collector.

What about a 1967 Royal Castle Dolphin Bob Griese, or for a matter of fact a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle?

Was this yours, Carl? Again, I have to be content with the scan, although I did get the Hewitt full book on eBay a while back and it's the only one I've seen.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7509/2...c4c30fa4_o.jpg https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8495/2...09fac4d961.jpg

Yes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection
 

What about this Benny? 1935 Tough to get enough border to get a numerical grade.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...e9d6db7bd8.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Robert. Good question.

From the correspondence I've seen between Sports Company of America and some of the athletes they were courting to be part of this set, the plan was for national distribution. They talk about 'spreading sports information across the country'. I don't know if anyone knows for sure how successful they were at accomplishing this goal.

jeff

Yeah, I agree with Mike on this one. The printing technique is such that it would be very easy to identify counterfeits with a loupe ... a vintage collectors best friend ;-)

Also, the paper fiber might be difficult to duplicate and finding paper that doesn't have any whitener might be a problem as well.

jeff

Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection
 

I had most of them in my hand at one time and they were all the same, mostly the Ad Backs. No on cared about Benny Friedman 15 years ago like they do now.

Usually people will counterfeit something that is single-sided (blank back) or something that has wide appeal and easy to sell. People were counterfeiting Pete Rose Rookies.

Plus PSA graded them all like Robert's collection.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...58fb64c971.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The information is amazing.
Thanks again for welcoming me into the discussion.

Any info on 1930 Rogers Peet football cards? I am searching for one for collection.
I would love to see images.


Robert

That set has eluded me as well, but I do have two scans - and I was able to buy a wire photo used on the Ken Strong card.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8248/2...b729e65dc3.jpg https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8110/2...f268f3f7_o.jpg

[https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8164/2...d29fd885_o.jpg

I'm missing the Grange but have the others. Let me know if these scans don't work as I'm having trouble with Google Photos.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_H...X=w381-h640-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2C...t=w381-h640-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mm...q=w378-h640-no

The Strong is one of my top 10 favorite cards!

jeff

Good point about the Friedman Wheaties, Carl! How could I forget about that item?

Here is my Friedman.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8q...C=w468-h743-no

And the exceedingly rare Thorpe!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qL..._=w486-h686-no

jeff

Nice photoshop


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here's th album and the grange http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...4a6bf3db6d.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk