Opinion on Top (5) collected baseball players

[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.

[7nohitter]

Mantle
Ryan
Bench
Seaver
Mossi

[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+

[thunderdan]

Ruth
Cobb
Mantle
Aaron
Clemente

[EvilKing00]

top 5 cards people have collected IMO

Mantle
Mays
Ryan
Bonds
Griffey

[insidethewrapper]

I think the top 3 are :

Cobb
Ruth
Mantle

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