Minor League HOFers
So when I became a teenager is when I first discovered minor league cards, loved them right away. Now it was a few years before I was able to really get into them because I didn't make a lot of money and I was still collecting comics then which took a lot of money.
Now I have a few cards in the '60s but more in the '70s, then a lot in the '80s, a huge amount in the '90s, and then slowed way down in the '90s. Kids cost a lot of money! Well, I have been thinking of going back and looking into getting older HOFers minor league cards. I am only interested in their cards if they were there before they went to the majors or possibly if they went back following an injury or something in the first few years. I really don't care too much about the condition of the cards as much, of course, I love a mint card, but there is also something about the character of a beat-up card if it still is presentable. What I would like to know is are there any sets that have a lot of HOFers in the set I should look for entire sets of? Any books I can buy with lists I could find them more easily? What HOFer minor league cards do you think are the best ones out there? Now with the minor league cards I have, I am pretty good with what they are worth, but its harder to value minor league cards because there are fewer of them and less are bought and sold. I am sure it's even more so with the older ones, so I am also looking for resources on values. Now because of fake cards, I was more into graded cards, though I am being more and more careful with all the crap going on with even the big 3 having issues with graded cards that are actually altered, etc. Are there fakes of the older minor league cards or am I a lot safer buying raw ungraded cards of HOFers minor league cards than I am their major league cards? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! |
Minor Leagues
Last summer I purchased a group of 900 different minor league sets, mostly 1970's, 80's, and a few 90's. I scanned them and listed them on eBay, and I learned to love these sets. They are so unique, and filled with error and correction cards, skip numbered sets, late season additions to the set, and an assortment of unique team names.
It was a tremendous task, making sure that every card was present in each set, scanning the cards, and writing the descriptions. I couldn't have done it if I hadn't spent around $40 to purchase the 2000 Standard Catalog of Minor League Baseball Cards by Krause/SCD and Bob Lemke. Nearly every set is listed in this book, up through 1999 or 2000. When collating my sets, I did discover quite a few errors and omissions, but 99% of the info is accurate. Every player and every card for each set is listed, so you can go through the book and pick out the sets that contain HOFers. Good luck, and enjoy collecting the Minor League sets. Rick |
Recent minor league HOFer pick up. I love the crossover:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f9602fbd_c.jpg |
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Here are my only HOF minor league cards.... Of course, the ultimate is Baltimore Ruth, followed by the T210 Jackson, but he not in the HOF!! (The T210 Stengel ain’t half bad either)
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Zeenut MLB Hall of Famers
Here is a list of MLB Hall of Famers found in Zeenut sets:
1912 Dave Bancroft 1912 Home Run King Dave Bancroft (which was issued by Collins-McCarthy, same issuer that produced Zeenuts) 1913 Harry Heilmann 1914 Dave Bancroft 1915 Stan Covaleski 1915 Harry Heilmann 1916 Frank Chance - at end of career 1916 Billy Southworth 1917 Frank Chance - at end of career 1918 Sam Crawford - at end of career 1919 Dazzy Vance 1920 Sam Crawford - at end of career 1921 Sam Crawford - at end of career 1922 Tony Lazzeri 1923 Paul Waner 1924 Mickey Cochrane 1924 Paul Waner 1925 Tony Lazzeri 1925 Lloyd Waner 1925 Paul Waner 1926 Earl Averill 1926 Lloyd Waner 1927 Earl Averill 1927 Harry Hooper - at end of career 1928 Earl Averill 1928 Ernie Lombardi 1929 Lefty Gomez 1929 Ernie Lombardi 1930 Ernie Lombardi 1933/36 Joe Dimaggio batting 1933/36 Joe Dimaggio throwing Brian |
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I had two of these in my life and traded both of them away for other things. One trade I am still happy with because it was a rarer older item, but the other trade I still kick myself for a little but I really had to do it at the time. I traded it for new highly sought after cards I was able to sell right away when I was unemployed and paying my bills selling at card shows back in the day. I also love the crossover of the Danny Ainge card which is a few years older if I remember corrctly. I would love to get another one of either of them. Quote:
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Of course!! I forgot about Dimaggio.... a HUGE one (or two). There is a 1920’s player too that has a minor league card- it came to auction recently. A buddy tried to convince me to buy it, but I was not into the player so I don’t recall who it was/is
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It's a post career issue but Joe McGinnity is featured in the 1912 C46 set as a member of the Newark Bears.
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Lefty Grove has a super rare minor league card from 1921.
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Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but of course the T206 set has some HOFers on minor league teams (although some of them were guys who had aged out of MLB and returned to the minor leagues). Beckely, McGinnity, Collins.
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With respect to T206 guys, those aren’t rookie cards; isn’t the OP asking about rookies? If not, great call on those three T206 HOFers |
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Thank you, everyone, for the help, I welcome any other cards that someone see's is missing from those listed by others already.
But my other big question from those of you in the know is, how likely are any of these old minor league cards to be forged or faked. I am just wondering if I would be safe going after raw cards that are not graded or should stay with only graded cards of the pre-war cards??? |
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Here is one most forget about. 1937 San Diego Padres PCL Real-Photo Team Postcard with Ted Williams (Rookie)
https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...e?itemid=46689 |
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Depends on your definition of "old". I haven't seen much in the way of Zeenuts forgeries but I don't know that I would plunk down four figures for a raw DeMaggio on eBay from an unknown seller (especially if he says "God bless" or mentions charity in the listing). The ML card I'd most like to own is the 1977 Chong Modesto Henderson, which has been faked. |
Clark Griffith's Old Judge is a minor league issue. He's with Milwaukee still.
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Earl Averill is in the 1928 PCL Exhibits set.
Brian |
If you follow this link, every baseball HOF'er as of 2010 is listed here along with their 5 earliest cards, including just about all minor league cards:
http://www.oldcardboard.com/ref/rookies/RookiesList.asp |
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I know, Ken. The auction house work has been keeping me busy these past couple of months. I have been in contact with Lyman though, we are in agreement that the BB HOF RC webpage needs to be updated. I have agreed to provide him with the info and he has agreed to make the necessary changes. Hopefully, all will be in place by, at least, the end of this year, hopefully sooner.
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Not sure if you collect postcards, but the LOTG auction that ends tonight has a bunch of postcards with HOFers during their minor league days.
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I have most of the modern minor league HOF RCs minus the big 3 (Henderson, Ripken and Sandberg):
https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...shedset/278808 In terms of older cards, I have a 1960 Marichal at PSA now and I'm on the lookout for a '58 Gibson. The '82 Elway is still my favorite. Love that card! |
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