Opinion on Top (5) collected baseball players

[koufax1fan]

Hello Everyone:
Has there ever been poll taken on the top (5) mostly collected baseball players in our hobby. Would it even be possible? Just curious .Below would be my top 7.
Mickey Mantle
Babe Ruth
Joe DiMaggio
Sandy Koufax
Roberto Clemente
Willie Mays
Nolan Ryan

[BradH]

Interesting question, Phil. There is a difference between most popular and most collected. I think it depends on if you're talking about this board or the whole hobby in general.

On a percentage basis, I'm not sure how many collectors own a Babe Ruth item, especially when it comes to his cards (?). He's the most popluar player in the history if the sport, but maybe not the most collected...on this board most people probably own a Ruth, but in the general hobby, probably not.

Likewise, a decent percentage of this particular board might NOT own a Koufax, Mays or Clemente item.

I remember in the 1980s and 90s, dealers couldn't stock enough Cal Ripken and Nolan Ryan cards. Pete Rose was huge in the 70s-80s-90s too.

Anyway, your list is probably pretty close, but I'd probably include Rose and Ripken, simply as representation from the "modern" segment of our collecting population. If you expand to "Top 10" I think you'd have to include them.

(I want to add that I'm not a fan of either of these guys, but I'd guess that almost every collector has had a Rose or Ripken in their collection at some point in their collecting career.)

[quinnsryche]

My guess would be:
Ruth
Mantle
Gehrig
DiMaggio
Cobb

[Leon]

I should mention I moved this from a BST forum. Five most collected, imo...

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Ryan
Cy Young


I am sure there are lots of other good guesses too.

[z28jd]

I agree with Brad, I don't think a lot of people have Babe Ruth cards due to price. I'd guess popular players from the 50's-70's if I had to guess the players with a high % in collections. Mays, Mantle, Aaron, Ryan. I think Ruth is probably the highest among pre-war(1941) collectors, Cobb would likely be next.

An interesting poll on here would just be a simple yes or no, do you own a Babe Ruth card from his playing days

[cubsfan-budman]

Man, I think "most" collected would be much more modern players...if by most collected you mean most collectors actively collecting that one player.

I'd say:

Mantle
Ryan
Ripken
Rose
and then maybe like Jeter or ARod or some stupid Yankee

[Leon]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

Man, I think "most" collected would be much more modern players...if by most collected you mean most collectors actively collecting that one player.

I'd say:

Mantle
Ryan
Ripken
Rose
and then maybe like Jeter or ARod or some stupid Yankee

Understandable but no Babe Ruth? I have to think even with modern included Ruth would be there...

[cubsfan-budman]

Originally Posted by Leon

Understandable but no Babe Ruth? I have to think even with modern included Ruth would be there...

I can say from my own point of view, that I'd love to own a Babe Ruth card...but they's spendy. I think that collectors TEND to collect players they grew up admiring.

Just a guess...I could be wrong!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

I can say from my own point of view, that I'd love to own a Babe Ruth card...but they's spendy. I think that collectors TEND to collect players they grew up admiring.

Just a guess...I could be wrong!

no doubt you are right about that.....but if we took ALL baseball card collectors I would think that Ruth might be there.....but too, maybe not. I have quite a few Ruth cards but do understand pre-war collecting is probably way less than 1% of total collectors....

[Cardboard Junkie]

Babe
Peach
Commerce Comet
Say Hey Kid
Kaline (I know, I know, don't yell at me, he was my boyhood hero)

Gotta add Leo The Lip...Looooong story (revolves around my mom, I'll save it for a mothers day thread)

Yes I own Goudey Ruths but that's it for the Babe.

[insidethewrapper]

I think the top 3 are :

Cobb
Ruth
Mantle

After that many could be added pre-vs post WWII ( Gehrig, Rose etc).

[BradH]

Originally Posted by Leon

if we took ALL baseball card collectors I would think that Ruth might be there.....but too, maybe not. I have quite a few Ruth cards but do understand pre-war collecting is probably way less than 1% of total collectors....

I guess that's what I was trying to say - on this board Ruth is a slam dunk, but in the general collecting population he's probably not.

I'm not sure how many collectors under the age of 40 own a Ruth (I'm 43 and just bought my first a few years ago). But I bet almost ALL under-40 collectors have had Rose, Ryan, Ripken, Jeter, etc. in their collections at some point, even if they don't currently.

And I was about to suggest a poll on just that question (owning Ruth or not), but it would be completely skewed due to nature of this board, so that's not a fair measure of his true collectibility in the general hobby.

Just my two cents.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I dont think any vintage player is even in the equation if all collectors are considered.

[7nohitter]

Mantle
Ryan
Bench
Seaver
Mossi

[RCMcKenzie]

It would be interesting to start a poll asking " Of which of these players do you either not own a card , or own the fewest?"

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Mays
Aaron
Rose

My guess is everyone on here has a Pete Rose, even on this part of this board.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

It would be interesting to start a poll asking " Of which of these players do you either not own a card , or own the fewest?"

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Mays
Aaron
Rose

My guess is everyone on here has a Pete Rose, even on this part of this board.

I don't currently have a card of Rose.... Several years ago I had his '63 card.....

[Cardboard Junkie]

No Charlie Hustle in my collection.

[insidethewrapper]

According to the PSA Registry Master Sets, the players with the most Master Sets that are being pursued are the following :

Pre 1970 - 1) Mantle, 2) Clemente, 3) Aaron, 4) Mays and 5) Koufax

Post 1970 - 1) Ryan, 2) Rose, 3) Ripken, 4) Griffey, 5) Jeter, 6) Schmidt, 7) Brett, 8) Yas , 9) Mattingly , 10) Jackson & Bonds

[cbrandtw]

Considering ALL collections today- my opinion
1)Mantle
2)Mantle
3)Griffey
4)Jeter
5)Ryan

[RCMcKenzie]

Leon and David, (and other non-Rose card owners)

I was going by the age demographics of the board and the sheer number of Rose cards produced along with the length of time they were distributed. The collectors on the board are very advanced and anyone who does not own one now, has probably made it a point to sell them all. I have Rose autographs in my collection that I don't even remember wanting to buy or buying. They must have been gifts from 20 yrs ago.

cheers

[AMBST95]

I'm definitely not the most impartial, but Ripken is definitely on my list.

My top 5 in no particular order:

1) Mantle
2) Ripken
3) Jeter
4) Griffey
5) Ryan

The prewar stuff doesn't have the larger number of collectors and the cost is prohibitive.

[AMBST95]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

It would be interesting to start a poll asking " Of which of these players do you either not own a card , or own the fewest?"

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Mays
Aaron
Rose

My guess is everyone on here has a Pete Rose, even on this part of this board.

Ruth -1
Cobb-2
Mantle - 0
Mays - 0
Aaron - 0
Rose - Several - I do have a bunch of early 80s cards intermixed with my junk wax from my youth.

[JollyElm]

I'm always looking to trade vintage cards (50's - early 70's), so I can say this with certainty. Without question, everyone always wants my Mantles and my Ryans. No one ever asks about my Willie Mays cards (and he's my idol!!), which is depressing.

I will say that someone being overlooked here is Roger Maris. It seems most people are after his cards, too.

[tiger8mush]

if i had to guess at strictly pre-war:
1) Cobb
2) Ruth
3) Wojo
4) Matty
5) Cy
6) Wagner
7) Jax

Thats my guess at the top 5

[Cardboard Junkie]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

if i had to guess at strictly pre-war:
1) Cobb
2) Ruth
3) Wojo
4) Matty
5) Cy
6) Wagner
7) Jax

Thats my guess at the top 5

There are 3 kinds of people in this world, those that are good at math and those that aren't.

[Greenmonster]

I just took a quick scan of responses, didn't see Williams mentioned so;

Mantle
Ruth
DiMaggio
Williams
Mays

[Bestdj777]

Ruth - 3
Cobb - 0
Mantle - 195+
Mays -3 or 4
Aaron - 2
Rose - 1 (maybe)

For the most popular, I would say:
1. Mantle
2. Mays
3. Rose
4. Ryan
5. Jeter

[Shoele$$]

Mantle
Ruth
Cobb
Wagner
Gehrig

[Eric72]

I think the most collected baseball player is Mickey Mantle. Along with the popularity of cards from his playing days, there has been a steady stream of modern issues from various card producers since shortly after his passing.

Specifically, Topps has included him in a plethora of their sets since 1996. As such, an entire generation of collectors who never actually saw him play have pulled Mantle cards from packs. And these issues tend to be valued a bit higher than their counterparts, thus drawing more attention.

For example, This issue from 2011.



(Not mine anymore...although I was lucky enough to find it in a pack of base brand Topps)

[itjclarke]

5 is so tough but here's a shot- (without specifics like volume of cards in collections, etc)

Ruth- 5
Mantle-18
Cobb- 11
DiMaggio- 4
Wagner- 4

Honorable 2nd 5
Gehrig- 5
Williams- 8
Ryan- each of his primary yearly Topps card (plus dupes)
Clemente- each of his primary yearly Topps card 1955-1973
Mays- 20+

[deucetwins]

Following a theme on MLB network, how about the top 9 by position? 1 player for each position.
Outfield=3
1st=1
2nd=1
3rd=1
SS=1
Catcher=1
Pitcher=1

Now let the real argument begin.

[Julz24]

I would have to say - in order:

Mantle
Ripken
Griffey
Ryan

Pre War cards are just too rare in comparison to modern cards. Griffey has around 10,000 different cards to choose from, and that number is always climbing. If I had to have a pre war list...

Cobb

Ruth
Matty
Young

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by deucetwins

Following a theme on MLB network, how about the top 9 by position? 1 player for each position.
Outfield=3
1st=1
2nd=1
3rd=1
SS=1
Catcher=1
Pitcher=1

Now let the real argument begin.

1B-Gehrig
2B-Hornsby
ss-Wagner
3B-Dave Orr
RF- Clemente
CF-Speaker
LF-Ruth
P- Young
C-Mack

[Sean]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

It would be interesting to start a poll asking " Of which of these players do you either not own a card , or own the fewest?"

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Mays
Aaron
Rose

My guess is everyone on here has a Pete Rose, even on this part of this board.

Ruth - 1
Cobb - 4
Mantle - 2
Mays - 2
Aaron - 2
Rose - 1

[thunderdan]

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Aaron
Clemente

[deadballfreaK]

Pete Rose UGH! I have a few of him. He was the last card I needed to complete my 1964 set and I went without for several years before I broke down and bought one for ten bucks. And this was way before the gambling scandal. He always struck me as a fake, egoistical jerk. Never could stand him.

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by deadballfreaK

Pete Rose UGH! I have a few of him. He was the last card I needed to complete my 1964 set and I went without for several years before I broke down and bought one for ten bucks. And this was way before the gambling scandal. He always struck me as a fake, egoistical jerk. Never could stand him.

When I used to play baseball in HS in the 1980's, I modeled my style of play after Pete Rose, now that I collect baseball cards in the 2010's I follow the baseball card collecting attributes of Bruce Dorskind.

[deadballfreaK]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

When I used to play baseball in HS in the 1980's, I modeled my style of play after Pete Rose, now that I collect baseball cards in the 2010's I follow the baseball card collecting attributes of Bruce Dorskind.

Well, I'm just a dumb hick and have no idea who Bruce Dorskind is. Guess that makes me and Bruce even.

[EvilKing00]

top 5 cards people have collected IMO

Mantle
Mays
Ryan
Bonds
Griffey

[Cardboard Junkie]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

When I used to play baseball in HS in the 1980's, I modeled my style of play after Pete Rose, now that I collect baseball cards in the 2010's I follow the baseball card collecting attributes of Bruce Dorskind.

Which one?

[CW]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

When I used to play baseball in HS in the 1980's, I modeled my style of play after Pete Rose, now that I collect baseball cards in the 2010's I follow the baseball card collecting attributes of Bruce Dorskind.

OK, that was moderately laugh out loud funny, for some reason.

[Julz24]

I just googled Bruce Dorskind and came upon a video where he/they talk about a Boston Garter card.

The truth is out there.