Who are the tougher living Baseball HOFers?

[MacDice]

I think you have nailed the list pretty well. Aaron and McCovey at least will still do a signing or two a year.

Aparacio is hard as he doesn't live in the states. When he does travel he has an entourage which drives up the price

Also heard Bench isn't healthy

[dgo71]

Depends on the setting. Most living HOFers are accessible through signings, but if you're talking about your chances of getting them to sign for free in an in-person setting, there are a few tough guys.

Jim Rice is an absolute miserable human being and would probably be close to the top of my list. Roberto Alomar, if you're trying to get him on a HOF specific item, will simply not do it. He charges a premium for HOF items at signings, and for free he will flatly refuse to sign the HOF inscription, HOF plaque postcards, etc.

[packs]

Tricky question. Those guys are tough to get in person but not tough in a general sense.

Here's my list:

Sandy Koufax
Joe Torre
Pedro Martinez
Frank Thomas
Greg Maddux

Just a partial list off the top of my head. The newer players are going to be hard for a while, but I think when they get old they'll do the circuits. Torre has always been hard because he's a Yankee. The price of anything Koufax tells you what you need to know, even if he was signing during spring training.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by packs

Sandy Koufax
Joe Torre
Pedro Martinez
Frank Thomas
Greg Maddux

Interesting because I thought the first four were pretty easy and regulars on the show or private signing circuit. Thomas in particular seems to be signing up a storm and can be had through a number of reliable sources for around $60.

Maddux I agree with. My sense is he doesn't like signing and won't be seen at shows. This in combination with the fact that his signature is an awful scrawl, it is a forger's dream. I would only obtain in-person or through a rock-solid source.

[packs]

Private signing for Koufax and Torre yeah, but you're going to pay through the nose. So I still consider them tough because the price point will limit supply.

I could be wrong about Thomas. He was supposed to sign in White Plains shortly after induction but cancelled and I haven't seen him come around the NY area since. But again, I don't know about every signing. When he was a player he was a very tough in person signature.

I haven't seen Pedro advertised at a show signing since he got in or before. But again, I'm limited to NY area shows and don't delve much into private signings.

[MacDice]

Good call on Koufax as being difficult in general. He maybe does one private signing per year and the prices were amazing. I kept putting off going to Dodgers spring training these past couple of years to get him on a few cards now I regret it.

[bender07]

Koufax is always tough, expensive to get on a specific item.

Morgan is not doing well. I didn't hear that about Bench nor that Seaver doesn't sign anymore? That latter is really surprising.

[Laxcat]

I'm sorry to hear of Mr. Irvin's poor health. Best show experience I ever had was sliding for him. I learned a lot about baseball listening to his stories.

[tazdmb]

Irvin is the toughest, simply because doesn't sign anymore, followed closely by Mays, who did a signing of 50 flat items earlier this year, Koufax is possible if you are willing to fly to ST, and has probably has signed more autographs in the last two years than the previous ten combined. Seaver had not really signed since being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Aaron did a signing last week.

I think everyone living who has been inducted in the HOF in the last 5 years is active on the show circuit. Just because they charge a lot of money didn't make them tough.

[egri]

Bobby Doerr.
.
.
.
I haven't seen a return from Red Schoendienst in years, and as far as I know he hasn't done a signing in a while. He was a good signer before then, though, so I don't know if he would count for this list.

[Klrdds]

With respect to all posters I think the word " tough" should maybe expounded upon. Does tough mean accessibility in person or through the mail or thru the show/private signing venue. Does it mean the price of their autograph in the retail market or show or private signing market . Does it mean the refusal to sign certain items but will sign other items . Does it mean the player is just a jerk no matter what the situation is. But none of the these guys are impossible( tough) to find in the marketplace however their price in some rare cases may make it tough for the average collector to afford.
For example
Irvin , Schoendienst, and Doerr are not highly valued or tough to find in the market but due to age they are not signing much now .
Seaver and Bench have never been an easy autograph to get.
Koufax's accessibility is difficult at best and a expensive signature as well .
Mays and Aaron have made it difficult on collectors for years .
Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson were not that easy to get as players and are no easier since their HoF election along with most of the players elected by the BBWAA in the past decade or two .
I remember when Mike Scmidt was next to impossible to get and he still is hard to get but not expensive.
The newer guys are just in some ways following the examples laid down by their HoF peers.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by egri

Bobby Doerr.
.
.
.
I haven't seen a return from Red Schoendienst in years, and as far as I know he hasn't done a signing in a while. He was a good signer before then, though, so I don't know if he would count for this list.

Red is quite obtainable through local shows in St, Louis where a number of people conduct Private Signings with him. I have probably gotten two dozen items signed this year. If you need any more info PM me.