Random thoughts on HOF cards
 

Just wondering...
Do any of you collect or hold on to pre-war cards of players you suspect or hope will be voted into the Hall of Fame? That leads to another question. Is there a list of old timers that were voted on, up for consideration and so on?

For example, does Ken Williams of St Louis Browns fame, have the numbers to warrant consideration?

John

Collectors have tried hoarding cards of potential HOFers, but have not always guessed right. I remember a few who put away some Harry Stoveys and Tip O'Neills. Then they voted in Bid McPhee, Frank Selee, and Barney Dreyfuss, and everyone was caught off guard.

I used to do that... I figured George Davis and Vic Willis were HOF bound, and I collected a few of their cards before they were voted in. I don't think Ken Williams will make it. But I didn't think Kirby Puckett or Gary Carter would, either. I think Ed Reulbach should get in... but I think his best chance has come and gone.

The big problem with guys who played before WW2 is that there are very few HOF voters around who ever watched them play. It makes it hard to determine the guys who might get in.

Had I been in possession of a crystal ball around 1987 that told me that Sellee and Dreyfus would go into the Hall and that additionally Pete Rose wouldn't, I'd have sworn it was defective.

I collect only Hall of Famers and wait until they are elected before buying them. Yeah, I pay a little more that way but I save money on guesses that don't work out. Of course, there is nothing wrong with owning cards of quality players that just didn't quite make the Hall.

In the case of willis...and granted at thetime you could find T206s at most shows and ebay was not yet really up and running...and you could swoop them up at the common price shortly after the election...because most dealers...sorry...are lazy.