What is the most rare vintage baseball autograph?

[Chuck9788]

is there any vintage players that did not or rarely signed autographs? Which is the most difficult autographs to find?

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Chuck9788

is there any vintage players that did not or rarely signed autographs? Which is the most difficult autographs to find?

Guys who died early are tougher to find autographs of, and the longer ago they lived, the rarer they tend to be. I'm not an autograph guy, but I understand that Addie Joss is very tough, with only a couple of autographs known. 19th century HOFers are going to be tough too, especially those who died young such as Kelly and Radbourn.

[Jersey City Giants]

somewhere out there are a few items I signed as batboy and one ball I signed for a little girl in college! Now those would be rare! LOL

[barrysloate]

HOFer George Stacey Davis is extremely rare.

[the-illini]

Not an autograph guy but King Kelly, Addie Joss, Rube Waddell, Ed Delahanty, Ross Youngs all would have to be at or near the top of the list in terms of difficult signatures to find an authentic example of - that doesn't factor in Negro league members, many of whom I am sure are almost impossible to find.

[edjs]

I think your question would be very tough to answer. I would suppose there are numerous guys that played ball that didn't get asked for their autograph all that often. I have a Charlie Deal card being authenticated right now, I wouldn't think there are many of those floating about. I also have a Claude Berry auto, again, I wouldn't expect to see many of those. I also posted a T4 Obak (well, part of one anyway) that has Doc Moskiman written on the front, I have asked around, but no one has anything to compare it to for me to see if he wrote it or not. So there could be a ton of guys that just didn't get asked or were not that great and their auto wasn't kept, and would therefore be rare.

[Jobu]

Lots of good names mentioned thus far. I think Joe Jackson makes the list of difficult signatures.

I am not really an autograph collector, but my toughest is Carl Lundgren (died 1934), which is posted in another thread.

[OldOriole]

In terms of rare autographs on baseball cards, I am aware of a Hugh Duffy signed N300 Mayo. I was the underbidder to an N54 board member a number of years ago. I can't imagine there's many of those floating around.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Jobu

Lots of good names mentioned thus far. I think Joe Jackson makes the list of difficult signatures.

I am not really an autograph collector, but my toughest is Carl Lundgren (died 1934), which is posted in another thread.

That is the name that came to mind when I saw the title. I'm sure there are plenty of others but I think he's the biggest name who's almost impossible to find. I heard it was because he was illiterate and didn't want or really even know how to sign.

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by Chuck9788

is there any vintage players that did not or rarely signed autographs?

Nope. They all signed for Coach's Corner.

[r0ck8ott0m]

I’m assuming the question would allude to well known, “popular” or HOF guys. The most expensive and hardest to find is a Josh Gibson. He too was illiterate and I am not sure there are more than 5 examples out there lol. He died at the age of 35 but the only examples are contracts from his career in Cuba.

[drcy]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

Nope. They all signed for Coach's Corner.

On the same ball even.

[drcy]

Off topic but of interest:

"The three most valuable autographs in the world are Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare and Button Gwinnett. 'Button Gwinnett?,' you say. An obscure Representative from the US State of Georgia, Gwinnett signed the 1776 American Declaration of Independence. The complete 'set' of all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence is the most coveted in the autograph hobby, and Gwinnett's is by far of the rarest of the signatures with only ten in private hands. The complete set-- which includes George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson-- is valued at around US$1.5-2 million, with Gwinnett's signature making up more than half the value."

[Republicaninmass]

"The one of whom may not exist"

[vintagerookies51]

Definitely Joe Jackson considering he was illiterate... Heritage had one on display at the National and it was incredible

[mybuddyinc]

Originally Posted by drcy

Off topic but of interest:

"The three most valuable autographs in the world are Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare and Button Gwinnett. 'Button Gwinnett?,' you say. An obscure Representative from the US State of Georgia, Gwinnett signed the 1776 American Declaration of Independence. The complete 'set' of all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence is the most coveted in the autograph hobby, and Gwinnett's is by far of the rarest of the signatures with only ten in private hands. The complete set-- which includes George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson-- is valued at around US$1.5-2 million, with Gwinnett's signature making up more than half the value."

............... darn ......... you beat me. I was going to ask if Button Gwinnett ever played baseball.

He was shot dead in duel on May 16, 1777 (thus only living well less than a year after signing Declaration of Independence). His adversary was Lachlan McIntosh. You can look up more if interested, but basically, they were long time military and political foes that didn't like each other to much.

Both have streets named after them in Savannah .

.............. carry on

[rats60]

Originally Posted by mybuddyinc

............... darn ......... you beat me. I was going to ask if Button Gwinnett ever played baseball.

He was shot dead in duel on May 16, 1777 (thus only living well less than a year after signing Declaration of Independence). His adversary was Lachlan McIntosh. You can look up more if interested, but basically, they were long time military and political foes that didn't like each other to much.

Both have streets named after them in Savannah .

.............. carry on

His supply wouldn't even land him in the top 10 of Baseball Hofers. At least he will never be forgotten due to one of the most populous counties in Georgia being named for him.

Not counting those with no known signatures, thus being impossible, it would have to be Buck Ewing. The only known signature is on his will.

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by mybuddyinc

............... darn ......... you beat me. I was going to ask if Button Gwinnett ever played baseball.

He was shot dead in duel on May 16, 1777 (thus only living well less than a year after signing Declaration of Independence). His adversary was Lachlan McIntosh. You can look up more if interested, but basically, they were long time military and political foes that didn't like each other to much.

Both have streets named after them in Savannah .

.............. carry on

I have read that Thomas Lynch Jr is the rarest of the DOI signers. Apparently there are less than 14 copies of his sig known, whereas there are 47 of Gwinnett.

But some of the rarest Baseball include Joss and Jose Mendez. Somewhere in Net54 is a Jim Stinson post about how he went to cuba to find a Mendez and apparently no one knows of one or something like that. I am sure there are others where no know example exists. Anyone ever heard of a Jim Creighton autograph?

[bigtrain]

Originally Posted by drcy

Off topic but of interest:

"The three most valuable autographs in the world are Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare and Button Gwinnett. 'Button Gwinnett?,' you say. An obscure Representative from the US State of Georgia, Gwinnett signed the 1776 American Declaration of Independence. The complete 'set' of all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence is the most coveted in the autograph hobby, and Gwinnett's is by far of the rarest of the signatures with only ten in private hands. The complete set-- which includes George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson-- is valued at around US$1.5-2 million, with Gwinnett's signature making up more than half the value."

Just to be clear, General Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence as he was busy with the Continental Army defending New York at the time. However, having thrown a silver dollar across the Potomac, he probably would have made a heck of a pitcher. He was a southpaw.

[JoeDfan]

My dream signature would be Sockalexis...but I have only heard of two in very private collections.

[chalupacollects]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

Nope. They all signed for Coach's Corner.

Some just this week!

[theshleps]

would love to see Lipman Pike first Jewish player

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by theshleps

would love to see Lipman Pike first Jewish player

Is he the guy with the "autograph sale" that took place for big money and then the sale fell apart for a reason I do not remember?

[theshleps]

here is his wiki page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lip_Pike

[FenwayDave1918]

I have been searching everywhere but cannot find the following:

Jake Stahl
Heinie Wagner
Clyde Engle
Hick Cady
Jack Bushelman
Chester Thomas
Les Nunamaker
Olaf Hendricksen

Any leads would be appreciated!