Baseball Cards - where obscure players become legends

[darkhorse9]

Have you ever thought about all the players whose names would likely be forgotten had it not been for some baseball card anomaly that would keep people mentioning their name with reverence decades after their passing ?

Sherri Magee -T206
Ivy Andrews - George C Miller
Joe Doyle - T206
Jim Konstanty - 1951 Current All Stars
Andy Pafko - 1952 Topps
Billy Ripen - 1989 Fleer

I'm sure there are dozens more that others can name. Good players, I'm sure. But their real fame came from a baseball card.

[ls7plus]

Indeed, most are forgotten. A few months back, I was re-reading some of Bill James baseball almanacs from the '90's in between sets while working out, and was amazed at how few names I recognized, despite being a devout fan for more than 50 years! Most of these guys are like extras in the cast of Spartacus--either in the slave army or the Roman's!

Happy collecting,

Larry

[egri]

There are even more if you include signed cards. Howie Fox would have faded off into obscurity by now, but anyone who is building an early '50s Topps or Bowman set needs him. Ricky Wright will stand in the way of anyone working on the 1987 Topps set, Ken Hubbs with the 1963 set, the list goes on.

[ALR-bishop]

Three of the most elusive Topps cards involve Gino Cimoli, Kent Hadley and Faye Throneberry

[irv]

I have always struggled with Joe Black from the 1952 Topps set and wondered why it was so expensive?

I know it's a high number card and it's his RC, but he only played 6 yrs, (with his first year being the best) and of course he was never elected into the HOF.

http://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/bas...ack-321/23340/

[egri]

In addition to what you mentioned, he was one of the Boys of Summer. Dodgers and Yankees from around then usually do very well.

[brianp-beme]

Benny Bengough - 1933 Goudey #1 card

Brian

[T206Collector]

Sherry Magee was awesome - and received Hall of Fame votes in 1937-39, 42, 45-46, 50-51.

He led the NL in WAR in 1910, when he won the NL batting title.

But, I concede, he is more famous for the Magie error card.

Still, he was a true star in his day. I once owned a Magie, but now I only own a Magee...

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I was also going to point out Magee was great, Konstanty won and MVP and Pafko was a pretty darn good player too.

[4815162342]

Johnny Bates

[PM770]

Grant Jackson (1966 Topps)
Jim Lansford (1952 Bowman large)
Pepper Martin (1960 Fleer)

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by PM770

Grant Jackson (1966 Topps)
Jim Lansford (1952 Bowman large)
Pepper Martin (1960 Fleer)

In this subject, my mind went immediately to Grant Jackson...who also has a variant card in 1967 Topps.

[vintagerookies51]

I'd say Buck Herzog has become pretty famous at least here on the board

[Luke]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Johnny Bates

Bates was really good during the tobacco card era. Top 10 in WAR for position players 1910 and 1911. Was also top-10 in adjusted OPS+ in 1909, 1910, and 1911. He didn't have a long career, but just during the years that the tobacco and caramel sets came out, he was a huge stud.

This Bates OM is one of my favorites:

[bnorth]

Bill Ripken is by far my favorite famous obscure player. Don't have a solid count but I have easily over 20 1989 Fleer variations and a ton of very cool print errors. Even have a custom made FF bat using a real game use Orioles bat.

[paul]

Don't forget Ten Million from the Obak set.

[yanksfan09]

Has Titus-itus been cured yet? Thankfully I've never contracted that disease!

[Dario7707]

Frank Campos 1952 Topps ( black star on back)

[nebboy]

T202 Harry Lord and Lee Tannehill because of being bookends to JOE