Players who have no cards (or very few)

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Posted By: Brian H 

I just finished writing something about Black Sox cards (from there playing days) and had to deal with just how few and far between cards were of some of them. In concluded that in order of rareness the three toughest to find cards of are:
1. McMullin; 2. Risberg; and 3. Williams.
Anyway it made me think about vintage Players who (for one reason or another) have few or no cards. So, lets start a list....

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

I think your Hobbs only has one card.

Lee

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

The careers of some of the players obviously predate the start of baseball cards (I'm not counting cabinets for the purposes of this exercise), but four of my favorite players who are sans cards (as far as I know) are:

Charlie Jones
Bill Lange
Jake Stenzel
Jack Stivetts

All of those guys were pretty darn good players in their time and probably should have had cards.

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Posted By: Jaime Leiderman

Alex Carrasquel - Wash 1939-1945

First Venezuelan in the majors.

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Posted By: Dan Mathewson

Christy's brother, also a pitcher. I've only found him on one card, the 1906 Ullman Postcard. I bought that and had it graded over a year ago. It's the only card I've seen him on, tho.

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

The name is similar, if not identical.

About the Blacksox: McMullen only HAD one card, till that 1917 White Sox set was discovered. Since we've just recently (in the last six months) had the argument about when it came out, I was amazed to see that Lemke had it at 1917 in 2002! (middle of 2001)
'17 is correct.

Yup, I only have one Fred card, and one Fred picture. I'm sure there are more photos. I supplement most of their cards with photos, which--until just recently--were pretty easy to come by, even originals.

Cicotte has a PASSLE of cards; Buck Weaver has quite a few two. Risberg (sp? Gee, you'd think I'd know...) has both a '15 and a '16 Zeenut--I had a DREADFUL time getting a good original photo of Gandil!

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Posted By: Jay Miller

Obviously, many 19th century stars fall into this category:

1-Spaulding--His Yum Yum exists but is unlisted

2-Several Old Judge HOFers with no other cards to my knowledge--McPhee, Galvin, etc.

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Posted By: Jaime Leiderman

It was his nephew Alfonso "Chico" Carrasquel

Started playing in 1950 for the White Sox.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Especially "ethnic" collectors who cannot find more than a card or two of their heroes.

BTW, for Black Sox enthusiasts, there are a number of readily available Abe Attell boxing cards in T and E sets from the teens. As we all know, he was a vital bag man in the scandal

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Posted By: B Hodes

I came up with some interesting people after I posed the initial question -- please corect me if I'm wrong on any of these (I am excluding cabinets and the like):
Louis Soxegleseas (SP) --- (American Indian with great potential who died a sad early death)
Tommy Bond, Will White and Davy Force (19th Century stars before Old Judge)
Josh Gibson, "Cool Papa" Bell, Rube Foster and all too many Negro League legends;
Ed Barrow (HOF) -- before becoming the Yankees' GM he did manage a major league team but no cards nonetheless;
Pete Gray (recently deceased) one-armed player during WWII;
Eddie Gaedel (an even higher lifetime on base percentage than Barry Bonds has this year);
Jesse Burkett (HOF) (only 1 card as a Major Leaguer -- and only one of that one card exists although I've never seen it!).

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Posted By: Kenny Cole

Lange is in the 1899-1900 Sporting Life Supplements, cataloged as M101-1, in the April 22,1899 edition. I guess it can be argued whether that's a card or not, but I think it is and I wish I could find one. I don't know of any cards for Stivetts, Stenzel or Jones. However, Stenzel is in the 1898 Cameo Pepsin Gum Pin set.

Kenny Cole

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Posted By: TBob

From the T207 set: Bill Lange appears on his only card. One of the upsides of the 207 set is the large number of players pictured who have no other cards. We could start a complete thread just on that set alone...

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Posted By: John(z28jd)

I bought a game used bat from Rusty Tillman,and then wanted to get a card of his to display with the bat(i have others all in one bat rack) and i found out he didnt appear in any regular set(topps,donruss,fleer) ,he played 3 years for 3 different teams in the 80's and no regular cards,or traded cards?
very dissapointing, but everyone will be glad to know i had the 89 procards phoenix firebirds team set(giants AAA affiliate) and good ole rusty was in the set

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Posted By: Paul

Jay,

What "Spaulding" are you refering to? It's not Al, is it?

Paul

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Posted By: Kenny Cole

I don't think you are talking about the right Bill Lange. The one believe is being discussed, the great Chicago outfielder who is reputed to have run through a fence to catch a fly, retired in 1899. As I understand it, his wife's father was a man of business and he didn't want his daughter to marry a man who played baseball. The bargain was made and kept. Lange retired at the height of his prowess to go into business with his father in law. The old timers who saw him ranked him up there with, or above, Cobb, Wagner, Ewing, and the rest of the stars of that era. He only played 7 years though. What a loss.

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Posted By: B Hodes

Please correct me if I am wrong on this one
The following Commisioners/league execs have cards issued more or less during their tenures:
Bart Giamatti (in Memorium but close because he died as Commisioner -- in fact some people think Pete Rose "killed him" );
Frick; Herridge (sp); Giles; Ban Johnson and his Nat. League counterpart (Fan Craze); Happy Chandler (Sportsstamp circa 1947 and also Callahan -- he's the only one in the set who wasn't in the Hall when the cards were issued).
As far as I know though there are no Bowie Kuhn, Peter Uberroth(sp); Fay Vincent or (THANK GOD) Bud Selig cards.
The most famous of all the Commisioners, Judge Landis, shockingly has no card although I have this gigantic Sporting News (or something) Premium issued during his tenure.

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Posted By: jay behrens

When I finish compiling my lsit of major league players that appeared on cards between 1908-1941 I can tell you everyone that appeared on only card.

Now, if I could just get my hands on the book Baseball Cards by Kieth Miller and Roger Erbe from 1980, then I wouldn't need to do this. Anyone have the book for sale or want to lend it to me for awhile?

Jay

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Posted By: Wayne Grove

Jay, pick up a copy of the Beckett Baseball Card Alphabetical Checklist #10 published last year. 1368 pages of listings for all players and the cards they appear on. Not 100% complete but close. It will make your task much easier. It doesn't list the teams they played on but does list each set they appeared in year order.

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Posted By: Jay Miller

Yes it is

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Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

I will lend you my copy of the Erbe book, if you want to pay the freight. Also, I am compiling a checklist of as many sets as I can from 1900-1960 other than Topps and Bowman. I would be interested in the format you are using to compile your list, and may be able to swap info.

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Posted By: Andy Baran

Jay,

Do you own the Spalding Yum Yum, or have a scan of it? I thought that Al was long out of baseball by 1888. What team is he pictured with?

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Posted By: jeff s

there is a W514 Risberg on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1863248887

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Posted By: Jay Miller

No I don't own it although several years ago I saw a scan of it. It pictures Spaulding and lists him as being affiliated with Chicago. There was also a Reach Yum Yum card made that the same fellow has.

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Posted By: Bob Lemke

Our 90,000+ card alpha data base indicates Bud Selig appears on at least two Brewers regional cards and two larger-format team-issued photo sets.

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Posted By: jeff s

after years of failing to focus my collection, there are finally cards that I am absolutely, positively sure I do not, and will never, want!

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Posted By: B. Hodes

I'd rather have Donald Fehr (or "the San Diego Chicken" for that matter) -- at least he is good at what what he does....

--
Yes, I know that there is a Chicken card in some 1980's set.

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

Hi Jay:

I have just sent an email that should help you regarding this book.

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Posted By: John(z28jd)

san diego chicken appears in the 82 and 83 donruss sets,the 82 is obviously his rookie card,and if you really want one Brian i can send you one because i have a surplus of them(the 82 that is). Altho alot of them suffer from bad centering a few would grade pretty high,just think how much a SD Chicken rookie would be worth in a psa10!

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

and Sleepy Bill Burns in the T206 (common price) and '15 Zeenut (uncommon price). Attell was well-known boxer and Burns a lousy pitcher--for the White Sox--before they got into gambling.

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

It was only a few years ago I was embarassed to collect their strip cards...$200! I paid about $10.
(the Risberg W514)

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Posted By: jay behrens

Julie, wanna double your money on the Risberg?

Jay

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Posted By: Brian C Daniels

Is also in the 84 Donruss and believe it or not it's supper hard to find!

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Posted By: John(z28jd)

I must have that card because i have the 84 donruss set but i dont ever remember seeing it,im gonna have to go check it out next time i have the cards out,thanks