Is there a more undervalued card in vintage?

[drumback]

If Eddie Collins was so boring, why did they call him Cocky Collins? He was smarter than just about every player in the game, and he knew it, and used it to his advantage on the field. He drove pitchers crazy on the basepaths, sometimes stealing bases before the pitcher even threw a pitch. Conversely, he was one of the most superstitious players of his time as well. Really, one of the most interesting players of the deadball era.

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by drumback

If Eddie Collins was so boring, why did they call him Cocky Collins? He was smarter than just about every player in the game, and he knew it, and used it to his advantage on the field. He drove pitchers crazy on the basepaths, sometimes stealing bases before the pitcher even threw a pitch. Conversely, he was one of the most superstitious players of his time as well. Really, one of the most interesting players of the deadball era.

I don’t think he was boring, nor was he probably considered “boring” during his time. That being said I can’t really remember ever hearing a romanticized story regarding Eddie Collins ever being told. It seems he just hasn’t carried with him the same aura of historical significance into our time as many of his contemporaries did so he could be viewed as “boring” by today’s collectors. Whatever the reason, I don’t think I have ever met someone that focuses on Collins... but I have met quite a few Lajoie, Foxx, Speaker, etc collectors. Collins is considered one of the top 25-30 players in the history of the game by many Experts.

[Jason19th]

I have always thought that Monte Irvin was criminally underrated. I know he had a short career in the major because of the color line, but he was star from day one and was a truly great player. Yet his cards are barely above commons

[Exhibitman]

From a card collecting perspective, another vote here for The Beast. 10th all time on base percentage, 4th all time slugging %, 5th all time OPS, 22nd all time in total bases BUT 110th in games played. Yet his Exhibit RC sells for a 20th of what you'd have to pay for a Gehrig. I realize Gehrig has the Yankees mystique, the coincidence of dying from Lou Gehrig's Disease, and the movie, but still...

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

From a card collecting perspective, another vote here for The Beast. 10th all time on base percentage, 4th all time slugging %, 5th all time OPS, 22nd all time in total bases BUT 110th in games played. Yet his Exhibit RC sells for a 20th of what you'd have to pay for a Gehrig. I realize Gehrig has the Yankees mystique, the coincidence of dying from Lou Gehrig's Disease, and the movie, but still...

I think the movie was a bigger coincidence than the disease, I mean what were the odds?

[Throttlesteer]

My vote goes to Charlie Gehringer.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Jason19th

I have always thought that Monte Irvin was criminally underrated. I know he had a short career in the major because of the color line, but he was star from day one and was a truly great player. Yet his cards are barely above commons

Throw Doby into that mix and I couldn't agree more.

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

I don’t think he was boring, nor was he probably considered “boring” during his time. That being said I can’t really remember ever hearing a romanticized story regarding Eddie Collins ever being told. It seems he just hasn’t carried with him the same aura of historical significance into our time as many of his contemporaries did so he could be viewed as “boring” by today’s collectors. Whatever the reason, I don’t think I have ever met someone that focuses on Collins... but I have met quite a few Lajoie, Foxx, Speaker, etc collectors. Collins is considered one of the top 25-30 players in the history of the game by many Experts.

For me at least part of the problem with Collins is that his overall life story is very uninspiring. He has some racist baggage, which wasn’t unusual among players of his day. But what sets him apart is that there is no “redemption” part of his story in that regard. Other guys like Ty Cobb or Tris Speaker mellowed out and became way more accepting later in life, especially after Jackie Robinson came around. Speaker was a former Klansman who later helped Larry Doby break the color barrier in the AL for example. So you can find something redeeming in their life story that makes them a bit more appealing despite their rough edges.

Collins doesn’t have anything like that in his story. Later in life he played a key role in blocking desegregation on the Red Sox way after most of his contemporaries came around. He was just plain on the wrong side of history. Its really hard to get enthusiastic about a guy like that. Its particularly the case since when you read his bio this is basically the last chapter, so his story ends on this negative note.

[SAllen2556]

I nominate Harry Heilmann
Four batting titles. .342 lifetime avg. And a real gentleman. Also a great broadcaster for the Tigers. On every all-1920's decade team. Cheap cards.

1921e121Heilmann.jpg

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

That's a sweet E121, 4's in that are like 6's in other issues!

[packs]

Nap Lajoie. I've always thought the premiums on his T206 portrait and with bat cards came down to the images on them rather than the player. The with bat card is on par with the Cobb bat off, and is in my opinion among the two nicest cards in the set.

His Cracker Jack is a hell of a card too. But I sometimes wonder if it's the image or the player that brings the high price there too.

[Yastrzemski Sports]

Killebrew rookie. A fraction of the price of Banks or Kaline.

[slidekellyslide]

Warren Spahn won 363 games and his rookie can be had for $300 in mid grade and ~$1000 in high grade.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Warren Spahn won 363 games and his rookie can be had for $300 in mid grade and ~$1000 in high grade.

Definitely one of the most underappreciated players of that era.