Collectors' Challenge Question:

[clydepepper]

One of the goals I have had for a long time was to see how many different Hall-of-Fame players I could collect. The hard stipulation was that the card had to be from a year when the player was active as a player or at least player/ manager. I found myself leaning heavily on the war time Play Ball issues....but, I fall short on folks like Earle Combs, who I only have as a 1954 Phillies coach. I will have to go research to see how many I actually have right now. I definitely have all from the modern ear...but the Tommy McCarthys of the world seem far away.

How many different active HOF players do you have represented?

Winner gets a Laurel....and (J.J.?) Hardy handshake.

[RGold]

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by RGold

I wish ; I wish

[clydepepper]

146 of 204....only 35, however, finished their careers before WWII.

[bbcard1]

At one time, a complete run of hall of famers was a goal, but the number of negro leaguers (a subset of baseball I really appreciate by the way) and fairly marginal 1800s guys made the less interesting to me. There are certain hall of famers for the Negro Leagues that if you want to find a contemporaneous card of them during their career, you will end up spending the same you would for a Cobb or a Johnson for a player that 98% of baseball fans would have no familiarity with. That just made it less interesting to me. I still collect a lot of hall of famers, but my drive to add a Bid McPhee is minimal.

[veleno45]

Originally Posted by RGold

The color is beautiful on that Combs. Beautiful, beautiful card.

[bcbgcbrcb]

As of last year when I abandoned the quest, I had one career contemporary items (cards, postcards, photos, etc.) of all 300 HOF members. My objective was even more challenging as I was looking for the "unofficial" rookie card of each. Never quite made it to that goal but at one time was over 80% complete. I also included umpires, executives, pioneers, negro leaguers and managers in addition to the players.

[familytoad]

Ray,
This is a slow pitch softball pitch for many guys on this board
Even my humble collection would represent a solid answer to your question.

I set out to get *multiple* contemporary (playing-years) cards of every HOF elected major league player whose career was primarily post-1900. This goal was met earlier this year when I got my second Babe Ruth. I had at least one of each guy as of a few years back.

This broad criteria means that this way, I don't have to collect all of the 19th century players. I have a few, I love them, and I will eventually try getting more. I don't have to collect the negro league players whose cards are extremely scarce and for some of them impossible. I don't have to collect executives , umpires or non-playing managers if I don't want to either
Of course if the opportunity arises, I'll buy cards of those gentlemen with pleasure!!

I have about 250 of my favorite ones slabbed by SGC, the link to my registry is in my signature line. I have at least another 400-500 more, some encroaching into the modern era, not slabbed. I've got a lot of slabbing to do!

Anyway, to me..Hall of Fame collecting is my true passion. I enjoy the stories of Bill Bergen, Harry Krause & Mark Koenig, but gimme the Babe, Rajah, Nap & Matty any day!

[aelefson]

Hi-
I too am collecting members of the hall. I collect one item from each member that is career contemporary. I am only at 192 as I limit most of my purchasing to a handful of shows as well as flea markets and antique shops. I also do not like to spend too much. My collection contains woodcuts, books, newspaper clippings, magazines, photos, and other paper items. Of course, I also have a lot of cards and a few postcards in the binder.

Alan

[Exhibitman]

I have no interest in marginal HOFers either.

My tweaks on this form of collecting:

1. I collect certain players' cards and card-like ephemera, and for those guys I limit it to career-contemporary items.

2. I am simply not interested in the glut of modern cards issued after players retired, with the exception of the 1970s Negro League issues that often represented the player's first trading card.



2. For many players I try to get something that isn't necessarily their 'best' item or most valuable or rookie item, but that speaks to me the most. Like this, my favorite Ted Williams card:



Or this 1953 St. Louis Browns Satchel Paige signed postcard: