What is the most rare vintage baseball autograph?

[btcarfagno]

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of guys who played in the majors for whom there is not a single known example. Guys who played in the 1800's. Died in the 1800's. Played before 1920 in 10 games or less and died young.

If the OP could narrow the question down a bit in terms of HOF or by decade or whatever it would elicit more specific responses.

Tom C

[Case12]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of guys who played in the majors for whom there is not a single known example. Guys who played in the 1800's. Died in the 1800's. Played before 1920 in 10 games or less and died young.

If the OP could narrow the question down a bit in terms of HOF or by decade or whatever it would elicit more specific responses.

Tom C

And ironically for some, only one. They are inexpensive on index/post cards. Often $5. I pick them up all the time, and most I can't find anywhere else (except in SABR).
So, need more context around what "rare" means.

[MJKnightJr]

1955 Topps Harry Agganis!!

[etsmith]

How about James "Swat" McCabe, I've got a possible autograph but can't find any exemplars anywhere.

[Topnotchsy]

Among Negro League greats there are quite a few for whom there are no known examples. Kevin Keating, in his Negro League Autograph Guide has a section that lists a whole bunch of names. I believe over time a couple from the list may have been found, but there are certainly some major names from Negro League history that haven't been found yet.

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

Our hometown boy HOF'er Jake Beckley is a tough one. I think in 35 years I've seen 3 up for auction and they were all pencil cut return addresses.
Of course there was an autographed baseball on Ebay this year and people actually bid on it.

[mrmopar]

As some have said already, there are probably many lesser known players that only a team collector might covet. Those guys who maybe played 1 game, or played and died long before collecting autographs was popular or never signed anything for whatever reason. Without a strong demand for them though, who knows.

I'm sure that there are plenty of turn of the century Brooklyn players that I would never find if I tried to complete that run. I won't, because I don't have the patience, expertise or funds to do it, but I do enjoy the story of Clancy Smyres. I learned of him from this site. He appeared in 5 games for the 1944 Dodgers and lived to the ripe age of 86, dying in 2007, yet good luck finding his autograph.