Baseball HOFers possible question?

[Klrdds]

Delahanty is a top 15 hardest to find autograph and readily forged.
But not at the top.

[Cooptown]

I remember following these old threads. At the time I was trying to get any HOFer, on any medium. Like anything, interests change, and I wanted my collection on HOF logo baseballs. If that wasn't attainable, I am hoping for the regular Rawlings OMLB.

I sort of lost count over the years, but this thread made me go back and want to look. Looks like I just crossed the 100 mark with 103 autographs of Hall of Famers. I know it pales to some collections on here, but nice to know I crossed the 100 mark!

[Wrightfan85]

Frank Grant is the only hall of famer with no known auto despite living until his 70's.

[JRS123490]

From my Hall of Fame excel and from numerous sources, books and research on my own, here is a list of about 60 guys you'd be hard pressed to find on any item. A very small few have a relatively decent amount of authentic examples (Cap Anson probably having the most of all the below names,) but when most surface (if at all,) they go for thousands upon thousands of dollars. It's safe to say that 99% of all Hall of Fame collectors will never own authentic signatures of the below guys. When I say no known examples in the open market exist, this is not including documents held by government archives (which will never be for sale.) It includes items that are known to be in private collections, or have been offered for sale at one point in time.

As mentioned, Frank Grant has no known signature example in either a government archive, or in the open market.

Addie Joss
Al Spalding
Alex Pompez
Alexander Cartwright
Amos Rusie
Andy Cooper - No known examples in open market exist.
Ben Taylor
Bid McPhee
Billy Hamilton
Biz Mackey
Buck Ewing
Bullet Rogan - No known examples in open market exist.
Candy Cummings
Cap Anson
Cristobal Torriente
Cum Posey
Dan Brouthers
Deacon White
Ed Delahanty
Eddie Plank
Frank Chance
Frank Grant - No known examples in open market exist.
Frank Selee
George Davis
George Wright
Hank O'Day
Harry Wright
Henry Chadwick
Hughie Jennings
J.L. Wilkinson
Jack Chesbro
Jake Beckley
Jim O'Rourke
Jimmy Collins
Joe Kelley
Joe McGinnity
John Clarkson - No known examples in open market exist.
John Ward
Jose Mendez - No known examples in open market exist.
Josh Gibson
Jud Wilson - 1 known example in open market exists
King Kelly - 1 known example in open market exists
Louis Santop
Mickey Welch
Mule Suttles - No known examples in open market exist.
Ned Hanlon
Old Hoss Radbourn - No known examples in open market exist.
Oscar Charleston
Pete Hill - No known examples in open market exist.
Pop Lloyd
Pud Galvin
Ray Brown
Roger Connor
Ross Youngs
Rube Foster
Rube Waddell - 1 known example in open market exists. This will be disputed by many, as third party authentication companies have passed at least 4-5 that I know of.
Sam Thompson - 1 known example in open market exists
Smokey Joe Williams - No known examples in open market exist
Sol White
Tim Keefe
Vic Willis
Willie Keeler

[theshleps]

Originally Posted by JRS123490

From my Hall of Fame excel and from numerous sources, books and research on my own, here is a list of about 60 guys you'd be hard pressed to find on any item. A very small few have a relatively decent amount of authentic examples (Cap Anson probably having the most of all the below names,) but when most surface (if at all,) they go for thousands upon thousands of dollars. It's safe to say that 99% of all Hall of Fame collectors will never own authentic signatures of the below guys. When I say no known examples in the open market exist, this is not including documents held by government archives (which will never be for sale.) It includes items that are known to be in private collections, or have been offered for sale at one point in time.

As mentioned, Frank Grant has no known signature example in either a government archive, or in the open market.

Addie Joss
Al Spalding
Alex Pompez
Alexander Cartwright
Amos Rusie
Andy Cooper - No known examples in open market exist.
Ben Taylor
Bid McPhee
Billy Hamilton
Biz Mackey
Buck Ewing
Bullet Rogan - No known examples in open market exist.
Candy Cummings
Cap Anson
Cristobal Torriente
Cum Posey
Dan Brouthers
Deacon White
Ed Delahanty
Eddie Plank
Frank Chance
Frank Grant - No known examples in open market exist.
Frank Selee
George Davis
George Wright
Hank O'Day
Harry Wright
Henry Chadwick
Hughie Jennings
J.L. Wilkinson
Jack Chesbro
Jake Beckley
Jim O'Rourke
Jimmy Collins
Joe Kelley
Joe McGinnity
John Clarkson - No known examples in open market exist.
John Ward
Jose Mendez - No known examples in open market exist.
Josh Gibson
Jud Wilson - 1 known example in open market exists
King Kelly - 1 known example in open market exists
Louis Santop
Mickey Welch
Mule Suttles - No known examples in open market exist.
Ned Hanlon
Old Hoss Radbourn - No known examples in open market exist.
Oscar Charleston
Pete Hill - No known examples in open market exist.
Pop Lloyd
Pud Galvin
Ray Brown
Roger Connor
Ross Youngs
Rube Foster
Rube Waddell - 1 known example in open market exists. This will be disputed by many, as third party authentication companies have passed at least 4-5 that I know of.
Sam Thompson - 1 known example in open market exists
Smokey Joe Williams - No known examples in open market exist
Sol White
Tim Keefe
Vic Willis
Willie Keeler

I volded the ones I have above but basically you printed my wantlist. I might have everyone else or may need 1 or 2 others

[keithsky]

You say all these are scarce. By golly if you go to coach's corner every month most of these are in the monthly auction. Lol

[tazdmb]

Originally Posted by JRS123490

here is a list of about 60 guys you'd be hard pressed to find on any item.It's safe to say that 99% of all Hall of Fame collectors will never own authentic signatures of the below guys.

While I agree that all your list is in the $1000+ range, you are selling yourself short. I am far from "rich" but have been able to acquire 15 (25%) of your list. You are relying too much on Ron's good, but not perfect, book. Plus there is A LOT of dispute regarding Negro League autographs (right Klrdds?). I actually once owned the Pop Lloyd example (a cut) from Ron's book. However, PSA failed it-so who is right PSA or Ron?

Additionally, I have seen several good Rube Waddells and King Kelleys and own one of three Sam Thompson autographs. I believe one of the King Kelley's will be coming to auction later this year.

Finally I would add Effa Manley and Jesse Burkett to your list. A real one probably will cost you more than Cap Anson.

Good luck!

[r2678]

As a Cleveland fan, I have an interest in Addie Joss. I thought he was unknown .

[Klrdds]

For 22 years I owned the only verifiable Addie Joss autograph. It is pictured in Ron’s book . I bought it as a part of a deal to purchase Napoleon Lajoie’s son’s autograph book from the early 1900s in 1995 with 2 other well known collectors at auction. It still remains his only known unquestioned autograph.