What is the toughest baseball HOF autograph to obtain?

[mighty bombjack]

Thanks Scott. I forgot about that Rusie. It just sold recently, no? Legendary or Heritage, I forget.

That Waddell, on the other hand, I've never seen. Is it property of the Smithsonian then? Any info on its provenance?

[David Atkatz]

Here's my Chesbro, on a 1903 Pittsburgh reunion ball:

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Here's my Chesbro, on a 1903 Pittsburgh reunion ball:

Awesome ball, David!

[Scott Garner]

Delete

[JimStinson]

I sold the Amos Rusie (kennel club) pictured above.
I sold a Pirates reunion ball too with Chesbro many years ago although there were several signed balls from that event and seems like the Chesbro on the one I sold was lighter. But heck that was probably 25 years ago.

GEORGE STACEY DAVIS is extremely tough Hall of Famer because he is one of those players that "went missing" after his career as a player ended in 1909. His death in 1940 was not discovered until many years after the fact. See below

Davis vanished into obscurity after his retirement. He worked in baseball as a coach, scout, and manager, while also working at a variety of other jobs that included stints as a professional bowler and an automobile salesman.
The circumstances of his death remained a mystery until baseball historian Lee Allen discovered its details through a campaign to track down historical baseball players, run in part in The Sporting News. He died in Philadelphia of paresis due to tertiary syphilis

[JimStinson]

Here is SMOKEY JOE WILLIAMS 1942 WW II draft card, Signed in lower right. He registered for both the WW I and WW II draft. In 1942 he was tending bar in NYC. I don;t know of any authentic Williams signatures ever being offered for sale.
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[mighty bombjack]

Wow, great stuff guys. Keep the toughies coming!

I'm getting excited for Ron K's book as well.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

Thanks Scott. I forgot about that Rusie. It just sold recently, no? Legendary or Heritage, I forget.

That Waddell, on the other hand, I've never seen. Is it property of the Smithsonian then? Any info on its provenance?

Wayne,
The Rube Waddell autograph with inscription is from the verso of a cabinet photo of Waddell that was apparently given to a hunting friend of Rube's. It resides in the collection of David Bowen according to the great book Smithsonian BASEBALL by Stephen Wong.

I hope this helps.