[QUOTE=prewarsports;1583722]I estimate that there are probably 500-1000 major league players going back to 1876 when the league was formed (but including the Union Association and American Association) that there are no known autographs of in the hobby, or examples anywhere but maybe some draft cards online. If you throw in Negro League players you are over 1000 for sure. Add in the early professional leagues from 1872-76 and you are closer to 1500. This is probably a LOW number but it gives an idea of many autographs out there have no known examples.
Thinking about the numbers you have come up with I believe you are close . I truly believe that the early 1900 -1920s Negro Leagues will have hundreds of players we have no record of let alone signature examples of just due to the teams moving and players jumping and lack of records being kept then let alone surviving to the present.
Maybe Jim Stinson would have some idea of those numbers.
Or maybe the all knowing gods of baseball autographs and authentication at PSA / JSA will enlighten us lowly ignorant collectors with some numbers.
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