Series #1 Card set for players Pre 1930...who makes the 54 player cut?

[rats60]

I think we need to start the 33 players who were seen by those that followed the game for a living as the best of the best and elected by the BBWAA to the HOF, instead of being back-doored by their friends.
Ty Cobb
Walter Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Babe Ruth
Honus Wagner
Nap Lajoie
Tris Speaker
Cy Young
Grover Alexander
Eddie Collins
Willie Keeler
George Sisler
Lou Gehrig
Rogers Hornsby
Mickey Cochrane
Frankie Frisch
Lefty Grove
Carl Hubbell
Herb Pennock
Pie Traynor
Charlie Gehringer
Jimmie Foxx
Mel Ott
Harry Heilmann
Paul Waner
Al Simmons
Bill Dickey
Rabbit Maranville
Bill Terry
Gabby Hartnett
Ted Lyons
Dazzy Vance
Joe Cronin

Then the best of the 19th century, starting with these 12.
Cap Anson
John McGraw
Buck Ewing
Old Hoss Radbourn
Dan Brouthers
Jimmy Collins
Ed Delahanty
Hugh Duffy
King Kelly
Jim O'Rourke
Jesse Burkett
Kid Nichols

Finally 2 players who were over looked by the BBWAA in my opinion and you can't have a set with Shoeless Joe.
Eddie Plank
Frank Baker
Joe Jackson

That is 48, then if you want to pick Sam Crawford, that puts us at 49, with 5 slots to finish the list.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Good list but not enough pitchers. At a minimum Keefe, Clarkson, Brown and Walsh (sorry if I missed them).

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Good list but not enough pitchers. At a minimum Keefe, Clarkson, Brown and Walsh (sorry if I missed them).

There is definitely room for them. That would put us at 53.

[Golfcollector]

Good list, keep the opinions coming.

It IS hard to make it 54...so many different ways to go!

[oldjudge]

Top 10 Pre-1900

1. Spalding
2. Ward
3. Anson
4. Wright
5. Ewing
6. Thompson
7. Kelly
8. Nichols
9. Radbourn
10. Browning

Top 10 Post-1900

1. Ruth
2. Wagner
3. Cobb
4. Johnson
5. Gehrig
6. Young
7. Mathewson
8. Jackson
9. Hornsby
10. Lajoie

[chalupacollects]

Casey Stengel, Connie Mack.. Rube Marquard with facsimile autograph...

[Fred]

Originally Posted by chalupacollects

Casey Stengel, Connie Mack.. Rube Marquard with facsimile autograph...

Why not real autos - sure they can be authenticated by at least one of the third party authenticators....

Tough list - definitely need to include a couple/few 19thC players. From a popularity stand point, Anson and Kelly would be in that grouping.

[Leon]

Good lists. I might put Cobb ahead of Wags.....

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Top 10 Pre-1900

1. Spalding
2. Ward
3. Anson
4. Wright
5. Ewing
6. Thompson
7. Kelly
8. Nichols
9. Radbourn
10. Browning

Top 10 Post-1900

1. Ruth
2. Wagner
3. Cobb
4. Johnson
5. Gehrig
6. Young
7. Mathewson
8. Jackson
9. Hornsby
10. Lajoie

[Misunderestimated]

Not in any real order (sort of chronological):
A.19th century (or mostly)

1. H Wright (player-mgr-creator)
Spaulding (player-creator)
D. White
Anson
Galvin
Ward
Radbourn
Clarkson
McPhee
Browning
10. Caruthers (great 2 way player)
Ewing
Kelly
Ward
Keefe
Delahanty
Rusie
Connor
Nichols
Hamilton
20. C. Young
--
1900-20
Dahlen
Crawford
Waddell
F. Clarke (player also mgr etc.)
25. JJ McGraw (mgr also player)
Wagner
Lajoie
Matty
.M. Brown
30 - Cobb
W.Johnson
J. Jackson
E Collins
Speaker
Evers-Tinker-Chance (one card?)
Alexander
Ruth
Heilman
. Hornsby
40. Gehrig
Foxx
Ott
Cochrane
Grove

--
C.Mack (Mgr-- )
J. McCarthy (mgr)
C. Griffith (baseball lifer-- Player-manager-owner-etc,)
C. Comiskey (Same)
Bill Klem (Ump)
--
Negro-League/Cuban
O. Charleston
Pop Lloyd
Rube Foster
M. Dihigo
Smokey Joe Williams
--
I think this about 54 and .... Miller Huggins maybe should be included instead he was a baseball lifer who died young (maybe because he had to manage Babe Ruth).