Card Values for Golden Era Player if Elected
 

So since the MLB elevated the Negro League stats to MLB status I have been convinced that Minnie Minoso would get in this year. I took this as an opportunity to “invest” in Minnie. My question, if he or any of the other golden era players get in what will happen to their card prices. As you can see below I went a bit all in

I have a 1962 Topps Venezuelan if you feel the need to go further down the rabbit hole ! :D

My only Minoso, obtained TTM in November 2014:

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4570c9d160.jpg[/IMG]

I wish his induction could have come when he was still alive, but better late than never.

To OP's question, I don't think the rise for him, or Gil Hodges, will be as drastic as others; they're both already very popular.

Would expect a small bump in his card values, but nothing huge, maybe 10%-20%-30% at most, depending on specific issues and condition. Just not sure exactly how much though. Would expect the biggest bump in his deemed Bowman rookie cards due to HOF/rookie collectors.

They are up like 300% on speculation sell the rumor, buy the news type of event.

I would think 52 Topps would be more sought after than 52 Bowman (or Red Man)?

Peter, thank you, my error. For some reason I was thinking he had a '51 Bowman rookie, like Mays and Mantle, but it is '52 Bowman he first shows up in. And in that regard, I agree with you that his '52 Topps rookie would likely take precedence over his '52 Bowman rookie. Brain cramp by me.

You may have been thinking of Irvin.

You may be right, but a definite brain cramp regardless.

Luckily I already have copies of both rookies, acquired years back.

I agree. I am a big fan of Minoso, think he was underrated for decades, but his cards have been trading like he already got into the HOF.

Just look at a mid-grade (PSA 5) '52 Bowman. Gone up from ~$60 to ~$300 in just over a year. 400% is crazier than the background craziness that has happened during the pandemic.
https://www.psacard.com/auctionprice...ues/211907#g=5

I think Gil Hodges has a little more room to grow, but not much.

I am actually most interested to see where his 1945 Cuban League “Rookie” would go if he makes it and whether it will pull up the rest of the Caramelo Deportivo set

Minnie should have gotten in years ago. I'm always amazed when someone argues against his induction, because they clearly have no clue about baseball statistics. I would have figured a basic knowledge about baseball history and stats would be a requirement for voters, but that clearly isn't the case. Bill James, who really knows stats, calls him the best eligible player outside of Cooperstown. I've been stockpiling Minnie's cards for years, and I will celebrate big time when his day in the sun finally arrives, which I'm confident it will.

Minoso has gone from bargain to not a bargain pretty quick.

His Bowman rookie has 2 versions, one with a creamy off-white border and a muddied image, and one with a bight white border stock and a clear image. The later looks far better.

I agree. Small bump at most by this point. Most of his gains have already been priced in. Anyone paying attention has been expecting this induction, so a lot of speculators have been buying his cards already. I wouldn't anticipate another huge jump in prices. But it would be cool to see.

You don't have to be amazed anew, because I won't argue against his induction, but Minnie's HoF case hardly rests solidly on his career "statistics". His 11-year run (1951-1961) was excellent, but doesn't create a lay-down hand. The fact that his early (pre-1951) years were diminished due to the lingering color barrier, combined with his role integrating baseball and the Chicago White Sox, makes him an attractive candidate and will hopefully get him in shortly.

Orestes "Minnie" Minoso. "The Cuban Comet". "Mr. White Sox". Left fielder for the Chicago White Sox in 1951-1957, 1960-1961, 1964, 1976, and 1980. In 1958, first black player to play for the Chicago White Sox. Career .387 OBP. 2,110 hits and 195 home runs in 20 MLB seasons. 9-time All-Star. 3-time Gold Glove. 3-time AL stolen base leader. Chicago White Sox #9 Retired. Also starred for the New York Cubans in the Negro Leagues. First Black Cuban in MLB.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1636284085
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1636284189
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1636284376
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1636284196

Agreed.
Every since the Negro League and other league were announced to being added/ recognized as MLB stats those cards/players started to go up in price and add it to the prices surges in our collection I think the prices are already baked in.
As a result if any of these players get in I think the spike for there cards would be no more than 10 to 15%

I just listened to the Building the Ballot: Golden Days ERA podcast today specifically about the negro league players and he had on Eric Chalek to discuss MLE (major league equivalent) of the Negro League stats. I would recommend a listen to learn more about how these players are being analyzed. It is important to consider that we still do not have complete information (box scores), but if I heard this correctly they are using an 80% factor in stats from NLB to calculate WAR. In addition as pointed out many players were stuck in the minors even though it was clear they would have competed immediately.

As for competition, he felt the pitchers that were already in are probably are the right ones to get in, but several hitters (mostly the SS, CF or catchers) are the best players to consider for the HOF with certain exceptions.

Since this is mainly a Minnie thread, thought I would give a shout out to my favorite card of his...the 1953 Bowman. A lot of great cards in that set with interesting poses/photo angles, and Minoso's is a classic in both regards.

Brian (card not mine)

Agree with every word!

I'm holding onto my e107 Dahlen. Any hofer from the set is nearly double and impossible to find

I had a lunch with Don Newcombe some years ago (I did a write-up of what he told me here) and one thing that stuck with me was that he was adamant that being locked out of the majors cost him a shot at the HOF. He was stuck in the minors for what he felt was two unnecessary seasons because the Dodgers flat out told him that they were bringing up black ballplayers one at a time and he had to wait for the other guys they brought up first. He thought that had he been allowed to go to 'organized' baseball without the racism he'd have won over 200 games and had probably another 1-2 20 game winning seasons. That said, he also would admit that he drank himself out of the majors by age 34.

Always has to be a devil's advocate, right? :) But I have never agreed with the Minoso HOF push.

At least not based on his numbers. His year by year statline reads like the standard hall of very good hitter. I'm not even sure how his WAR and OPS+ are as high as they are (when you break everything down). I don't think a couple extra MLB years in the late '40s to start his career would've changed any of that much.

Also, his DWAR numbers don't support the gold gloves he won at all, and (despite being considered a top stolen base guy for his time), his SB success rate was very subpar. Most of the black ink from his career numbers comes from leading the league in caught stealing and HBP.

If you want to factor in how he likely helped clear the path for Latin American players to get to the big leagues, then that's different. But imo, that's the only way he'd deserve to be in.

Oh man I love that 1953 Bowman Minoso. I can’t believe I haven’t seen (or noticed) it before.

Wow.

Great story Adam

Thanks for sharing

Minoso
 

I bought 3 of Minoso's cards this year. I think he will be elected. His prior MLB stats are a little light but the addition of the Negro League stats helps. I expect MLB will look to add a couple more of the Negro League players with verified stats this year as a follow up to their validation of the Negro Leagues. Minoso is the most obvious one to choose. He could have had 3 more years of American League stats with 154 games each if he was born a few years later. However, the speculators have already jumped up the values of his cards to HOF levels.

'52 Bowman
 

My only Minoso card. And yes, he deserves to be a HOF'er, IMO.

I bought a couple of Minoso cards earlier this year. They're long-term holds, so not looking for a bump in price.

He was a great player, and it's good to see him get more recognition.

Any consensus among the group as to which is Minoso's rookie card?

Bit of a toss-up. He's got 1952 cards for each of the following sets, which could all be considered at least a type of rookie card:

Topps
Bowman
Red Man Tobacco
Berk Ross
Star Cal Decals

I believe most people would narrow his main rookie down to the ones from either regular main Topps or Bowman set, with the overall edge probably going to his Topps cards. His Bowman card is great also.

He also has an earlier Hage's Dairy card from 1950, but that is for a minor league team.

Just because of where 52 Topps trend in general, I would say that is the card with the most potential. Sheer speculation, though, as I have no insight whatsoever with card valuations.

Minoso's real rookie is the 1945/46 Caramelo Deportivo.

I'm with Kenny on this one . . .

Attachment 494757

Personally, I think it should be his first card, but the “a rookie must be a major league card or at least from a major league set” rule has been around since rookies were made up in the 80’s. His 1952’s are his first major league cards. I’d pick the Bowman’s over the Topps because they were issued earlier. Not sure on when the other 52 Minnie’s came out.

Agreed as to the Cuban issue. As for the 1952s, gotta go with Topps since it is from the classic postwar set. Though my personal favorite Minoso cards are from 1954:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20Minoso_1.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...t%20Minoso.jpg

Great looking card..

Don Newcombe was a star. Being a Dodgers fan, I saw him pitch on 2 occasions. He was overpowering on the mound, a hulking presence which must have been terrifying for the batters. And he was a great hitter to boot. The Dodgers sometimes you used him as a pinch hitter.