Under appreciated Hall of Famers

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Not really a great comparison, I don't think, because one is a rookie card?

I was comparing dollar amounts, early Ruth's are outside of my price range and while the Ruth exhibits is one of my favorite cards I'd have to choose the Cobb rookie.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I was comparing dollar amounts, early Ruth's are outside of my price range and while the Ruth exhibits is one of my favorite cards I'd have to choose the Cobb rookie.

Well like you I have the Ruth, but even leaving that aside I might agree but only because it was Cobb's rookie card. In general, though, just as an investment proposition, I would much rather spend equivalent dollars on Ruth than Cobb even at today's prices.

[darwinbulldog]

Mays has always seemed underrated if you're comparing his card prices to Mantle's, but not if you compare him to the other great players of the 50s and 60s, so it's not Mays whose prices were "wrong" all this time. It was just Mantle.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

Mays has always seemed underrated if you're comparing his card prices to Mantle's, but not if you compare him to the other great players of the 50s and 60s, so it's not Mays whose prices were "wrong" all this time. It was just Mantle.

That’s a good point…maybe Mantle is the outlier, not the “underrated” guys. Other than Mantle and maybe Ruth, who are the underrated compared to?

[sreader3]

Recent risers …

Clemente, Jackie, Lajoie

Future risers …

F. Robby, Morgan

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

A related concept is a HOF'er who has NEVER been appreciated. Monte Irvin cards were immediately passed in the hobby by Minnie Minoso as soon as he was elected to the hall. Irvin is about the only early black MLB HOF'er whose prices didn't move with the spike most of those players saw after Aaron died.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

A related concept is a HOF'er who has NEVER been appreciated. Monte Irvin cards were immediately passed in the hobby by Minnie Minoso as soon as he was elected to the hall. Irvin is about the only early black MLB HOF'er whose prices didn't move with the spike most of those players saw after Aaron died.

Would like to see Irvin get some love from collectors. Maybe after Mays' HBO documentary comes out.

There was a nice write-up about Irvin after he passed in 2016.

As it points out, Irvin was 30 by the time he finally got a chance to play in the Majors in '49, after a great career in the Negro Leagues. Unfortunately, after a strong year for the Giants in '51 when he lead the league in RBIs and finished 3rd in MVP, he fractured his ankle sliding into 2nd, causing him to miss most of the '52 season and hindering his MLB career.

He was a mentor to Willie Mays, and along with Hank Thompson, formed the first all black outfield. RMY had an amazing picture of them in their most recent auction.