"Long Tom" Hughes and "Salida Tom" Hughes Autograph Scan Request

[bender07]

Originally Posted by bender07

Why are both of these guys so rare when they were both on popular teams and lived in to the 1950's/1960's? Is it as simple as a disinterest from collectors from the '50s?

Sorry for bumping an old thread (especially one not related to TPGs or "is this good?") but I'm still wondering why the these sigs are so scarce. Thoughts?

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by bender07

Sorry for bumping an old thread (especially one not related to TPGs or "is this good?") but I'm still wondering why the these sigs are so scarce. Thoughts?

To answer your question , the date of death is not always the primary indication of rarity , some old time players just "vanished" after their playing careers. A prime example would be Roy Castleton who died in 1967 and was an accountant most of his life yet to my knowledge there are no autographs of his that have ever been offered for sale.

Another example would be Charles Perkins who played for the 1930 A's and 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers. But died in 1988. He was "found" by an astute collector who had him sign several items , he then informed Mr Smalling (baseball address list) that Perkins had been "found" but before the info could be made public Perkins died.

Almost the same thing happened with Karl Spooner and others. Not counting guys like Clancy Smyres who just simply refused to sign anything even though his name, address and phone number were listed in the telephone directory.
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

I buy and sell vintage baseball autographs see my web site
stinsonsports.com

[Michael B]

I can concur with Jim on this, though my personal experience is with Olympians. I try to get signatures from any and all Olympians, especially Americans. I have had a few send back unsigned notes that they do not sign through the mail. There is a 1950's gold medalist who keeps a log of who he receives requests from. He gives one signature with a full name personalization. I sent him a copy of a new photo from my collection last year and received an unsined note "I signed for you in 1993 when you lived in ****, MA and in 1999 when you lived in (different city), MA. I now live in Virginia and it is 14 years later. On the opposite side of the spectrum one Olympian was kind enough to include a note that he had not signed an autograph since competing in London in 1948, 64 years earlier. We have since corresponded several times including me sending him a nice 8x10 b&w copy of a photo of him competing in London that is in my personal archives.

You never know how someone will react. I was talking to an Olympian (1988 gymnast) at The National three weeks ago. She is President of the MidWest Olympians chapter of the US Olympians, the alumni association of athletes. She downplayed her career as being insignificant to that of Bob Beamon and Dick Fosbury who she was hanging out with. She was surprised I asked her to sign a few index cards. Like many earlier baseball players who retire and go on with life, there are quite a few Olympians who are the same way.

[footlong]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

To answer your question , the date of death is not always the primary indication of rarity , some old time players just "vanished" after their playing careers. A prime example would be Roy Castleton who died in 1967 and was an accountant most of his life yet to my knowledge there are no autographs of his that have ever been offered for sale.

Another example would be Charles Perkins who played for the 1930 A's and 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers. But died in 1988. He was "found" by an astute collector who had him sign several items , he then informed Mr Smalling (baseball address list) that Perkins had been "found" but before the info could be made public Perkins died.

Almost the same thing happened with Karl Spooner and others. Not counting guys like Clancy Smyres who just simply refused to sign anything even though his name, address and phone number were listed in the telephone directory.
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

I buy and sell vintage baseball autographs see my web site
stinsonsports.com

Jim, Bill Sarni, who played for the Cards and Giants passed away around the same time as Karl Spooner, is much more difficult to find. Was he that less likely to sign in your opinion? Thanks for your thoughts.

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by footlong

Jim, Bill Sarni, who played for the Cards and Giants passed away around the same time as Karl Spooner, is much more difficult to find. Was he that less likely to sign in your opinion? Thanks for your thoughts.

________________________
Sarni for reasons known only to himself just simply refused to sign after his playing days , much like Smyres , I've heard more than one personal story told by collectors who went to Sarni's house and had the door slammed in their face, Nick Polly, Oscar Georgy & Lyle Judy also fall into that category.

I once went to Lyle Judy's house and and was told by a neighbor he was in the hospital , I went to the hospital and brought a gift and he STILL refused to sign he was pleasant until he heard the word "autograph" , as I was leaving his nurse asked me why I would want his autograph , I told her and she took the 2 or 3 index cards I had into his room and asked me to wait outside. He signed them for her.
A week later his name appeared in the Daytona Beach obituaries
_____________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

I buy and sell vintage baseball autographs see my web site
stinsonsports.com

[btcarfagno]

I remenber hearing that Sarni was a rather ornery fellow. I believe he had heart problems that forced him away from the game. Perhaps it was sonething related to that that soured him on his memories of the game.

The only Sarni I have ever owned was a vintage team issue photo postcard. I think I sold it last year for around $150 or so.

Tom C

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

To answer your question , the date of death is not always the primary indication of rarity , some old time players just "vanished" after their playing careers. A prime example would be Roy Castleton who died in 1967 and was an accountant most of his life yet to my knowledge there are no autographs of his that have ever been offered for sale.

Another example would be Charles Perkins who played for the 1930 A's and 1934 Brooklyn Dodgers. But died in 1988. He was "found" by an astute collector who had him sign several items , he then informed Mr Smalling (baseball address list) that Perkins had been "found" but before the info could be made public Perkins died.

Almost the same thing happened with Karl Spooner and others. Not counting guys like Clancy Smyres who just simply refused to sign anything even though his name, address and phone number were listed in the telephone directory.
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

I buy and sell vintage baseball autographs see my web site
stinsonsports.com

And as I found in my search... Ralph "Joe" Dawson from the 1927 Pirates. Died in 1978, but nobody knew where he was for 40+ years.