Toughest 20th Century Pre-War Player to Collect?

[bcbgcbrcb]

I just did a search this evening on eBay for the most recent 200 cards sold of Rogers Hornsby. Unless I missed something, there was exactly one career contemporary card included in there, a PSA 1 Diamond Stars. The other 199 were all post playing days cards. A search for Hornsby cards within active listings generates some examples, albeit very sparse compared to just about any other 20th Century player and those that are out there are primarily way overpriced (I know, no surprise there). So who is tougher to buy career contemporary cards of than Hornsby?

My thought is that advanced collectors and highly knowledgeable dealers realize that his stuff is so scarce and underpriced at the same time that rarely is anyone willing to part with any quality cards in hopes of future value escalating. Am I right or way off base here?

[bcbgcbrcb]

Just thought of one myself, Ross Youngs is probably a good answer.

[Leon]

Hornsby is undervalued but the reality is, the market sets the prices. A lot of top level HOF'ers don't get the respect, value-wise.

[Casey2296]

-
Off the top of my head anything non-T206 Matty is tough.
-

[packs]

I find Joe D hard to collect. I just don’t like the cards issued during his career other than the 1941 Play Ball but it’s been hard to find one with decent registration.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by packs

I find Joe D hard to collect. I just don’t like the cards issued during his career other than the 1941 Play Ball but it’s been hard to find one with decent registration.

I would agree, by far the best DiMaggio card but super hard to find not only registered but centered, and also with the correct purple color background.
My other favorite is his 4 on 1 with Gehrig, passing of the torch and all that.

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by packs

I find Joe D hard to collect. I just don’t like the cards issued during his career other than the 1941 Play Ball but it’s been hard to find one with decent registration.

This is so true. So glad I was able to land a nice example.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by packs

I find Joe D hard to collect. I just don’t like the cards issued during his career other than the 1941 Play Ball but it’s been hard to find one with decent registration.

His features didn't help. Don Drysdale practically couldn't take a bad photo, but some of Joe D's card images could chase a dog up the tree. I do like this one:

[Brian Van Horn]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Just thought of one myself, Ross Youngs is probably a good answer.

Phil,

For your viewing pleasure.

[brianp-beme]

Below is a related post (pasted below) I made in a thread 9 years ago that had some of the same parameters as what is seen in the OP, but strictly involving Hall of Famers.

Brian


I will approach this question from a narrowed perspective, because it is within the following guidelines that I have always collected, which is based upon availability of prewar cards.

When I set my self-imposed guidelines, I eliminated all players whose careers were mostly in the 19th century, due to expense. I also eliminated almost all of the executives, broadcasters, etc. due to the lack of availability. Also due to the lack of availability I removed all of the Negro League players. What remains are 20th century HOF players whose careers were mostly before World War 2. The following are the ones I always considered tougher to track down Pre-WW2 cards due to the player being in fewer popular sets during their playing/managing careers.

Big Names:

Honus Wagner - in a decent amount of sets, but less frequently seen because of his absence in almost all the tobacco issues

Eddie Plank - not in that many sets, and incredibly tough in the most popular (T206)

Lou Gehrig - in some more commonly issued earlier 1930's sets, but still not as many as you would think based upon his status


Others:

Willie Keeler: 1910 era cards at the end of his career

Jimmy Collins: in fewer sets than Keeler

Jake Beckley: thankfully in T206 set, otherwise not much available

Elmer Flick: in fewer sets than Keeler

Hugh Duffy: at end of playing career during 1910 era

Joe Kelley: at end of playing career

George Davis: not in many sets

Joe McGinnity: at end of career in 1910

Addie Joss: untimely death in 1911

Jack Chesbro: thankfully in T206 set, otherwise not much available

Gabby Hartnett: in E120, and 1933 Goudey, otherwise surprisingly not in many of the prominent 30's issues (other Goudey, Diamond Star, Play Ball)

Ross Youngs: short career, mostly featured in strip sets

Casey Stengel: not in many of the common sets

Wilbert Robinson: surprisingly in MORE sets than expected

Stan Coveleskie: career falls in the 1917-1932 'dead zone' card era

Bill Southworth: seems to be overlooked in most sets

Charles Comiskey: executive, but featured in prominent sets like Cracker Jack and Sporting News

Branch Rickey: fortunately featured in Cracker Jacks and V100 sets

Bill McKechnie: in limited sets

Ducky Medwick: missing from early 30's sets, and most Goudey issues

Luke Appling: mostly mid to late 30's sets

Billy Herman: besides 33 Goudey, not in many sets

Fred Lindstrom: overlooked in most 30's sets

Al Lopez: not in many sets

Dizzy Dean: short career cut short his card appearances

[Exhibitman]

Honus Wagner. His career-issued cards are just really expensive throughout, and he missed the strip card era where you can get relatively inexpensive cards of many other top tier HOFers.

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I just did a search this evening on eBay for the most recent 200 cards sold of Rogers Hornsby. Unless I missed something, there was exactly one career contemporary card included in there, a PSA 1 Diamond Stars. The other 199 were all post playing days cards. A search for Hornsby cards within active listings generates some examples, albeit very sparse compared to just about any other 20th Century player and those that are out there are primarily way overpriced (I know, no surprise there). So who is tougher to buy career contemporary cards of than Hornsby?

My thought is that advanced collectors and highly knowledgeable dealers realize that his stuff is so scarce and underpriced at the same time that rarely is anyone willing to part with any quality cards in hopes of future value escalating. Am I right or way off base here?

I sold a raw 1933 Goudey Hornsby #188 on eBay in December.

[alywa]

Not an exclusively 20th Century Player (1890-1905), but as far as I know only two 20th C cards as a manager. By far the toughest MLB HOFer from the 20th C.

T204ToughCards.jpg

[Exhibitman]

Youngs' 1922 Exhibit:

[tjisonline]

Non-HOF - moonlight graham & non- 1940 Play Ball Joe Jackson.

HOF - pretty much everyone has already mentioned. Players are either extremely expensive to collect (Wagner. Each has some combo of low supply w/ high (or low) demand. E.g. Josh Gibson high demand with extremely low supply.