The Moe Berg Differential

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I'll see your Dummy Hoy and raise you a Dummy Taylor. OK it's not a raise really, but he does sell for multiples of a T206 common. If Pete Gray had a card from his playing days I think it would sell for a ton.

[jimtodd]

I’ve definitely had the same experience as the OP in trying to buy Mo Berg, and also a similar one with Ray Chapman after reading Mike Sowell’s “The Pitch that Killed”.

These might be fightin words to some, but what about Smoky Joe Wood? He was a very good player for a few years, but his cards are more valuable than many HOFers.

Also Bo Jackson. Junk wax, and the man could mash, but was a bigger celebrity than a great player (8.3 career WAR).

[jsfriedm]

Merkle and Snodgrass. I keep getting outbid on nice T205s of those. A PSA 6 T205 Merkle just went for $1,000!

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

OK, to try and categorize some themes, it feels like here are some reasons a players cards might be higher OTHER than baseball ability:

1. Post baseball career (I think this category would encompass Berg, Uecker, and any another player who went on to be a politician, actor, etc.)

2. Tragedy (Ray Chapman)

3. Overcoming physical disabilities ("Dummy" Hoy, Jim Abbot, etc.)

4. Religious or Heritage (Jewish players, Native American players, etc. or other traits valued by large collector bases).

5. Freak Athlete in Other sports (Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson)

What am I missing here?

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Oh, maybe:

6. Significant, famous on-field occurrence (Branca, Thompson, Merkle, Buckner (do Buckner's cards have any kind of premium?))

[25801wv]

1984 Fleer Glen Hubbard

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

OK, to try and categorize some themes, it feels like here are some reasons a players cards might be higher OTHER than baseball ability:

1. Post baseball career (I think this category would encompass Berg, Uecker, and any another player who went on to be a politician, actor, etc.)

2. Tragedy (Ray Chapman)

3. Overcoming physical disabilities ("Dummy" Hoy, Jim Abbot, etc.)

4. Religious or Heritage (Jewish players, Native American players, etc. or other traits valued by large collector bases).

5. Freak Athlete in Other sports (Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson)

What am I missing here?

Another category might be solely a player's interesting name (1911 Obak Ten Million is a prime example).

And interesting/different pose, such as the 1912 Zeenut of Halla, the Mickey Hatcher card shown, 1952 Topps Gus Zernial with the 6 balls stuck to his bat, the O'Brien twins in the 1954 Topps set.

Brian

[skelly423]

Wally Moon. You pay for a full card and only get a single eyebrow.

[kkkkandp]

While not a superstar, Dummy Hoy wasn't a slouch and he had to overcome a serious shortcoming most of his peers did not.

How about Billy Sunday and this guy...

[BobC]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

OK, to try and categorize some themes, it feels like here are some reasons a players cards might be higher OTHER than baseball ability:

1. Post baseball career (I think this category would encompass Berg, Uecker, and any another player who went on to be a politician, actor, etc.)

2. Tragedy (Ray Chapman)

3. Overcoming physical disabilities ("Dummy" Hoy, Jim Abbot, etc.)

4. Religious or Heritage (Jewish players, Native American players, etc. or other traits valued by large collector bases).

5. Freak Athlete in Other sports (Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson)

What am I missing here?

The #1 cards in some sets?

[midmo]

Fun lists and categorization.

Chuck Connors is probably the top of the list for my collection. Thread needs more cards...
connors.jpg
Original Newton Estape photo, 1949-50 Acebo, 1950 Big League Stars, and 1949-50 Ansco.

[egri]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

OK, to try and categorize some themes, it feels like here are some reasons a players cards might be higher OTHER than baseball ability:

1. Post baseball career (I think this category would encompass Berg, Uecker, and any another player who went on to be a politician, actor, etc.)

2. Tragedy (Ray Chapman)

3. Overcoming physical disabilities ("Dummy" Hoy, Jim Abbot, etc.)

4. Religious or Heritage (Jewish players, Native American players, etc. or other traits valued by large collector bases).

5. Freak Athlete in Other sports (Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson)

What am I missing here?

Great list, and I'd add when they become a cause célèbre for something in their post-playing career. Think Joe Jackson and Pete Rose being (or not) reinstated, or formerly getting Gil Hodges and Minnie Miñoso into the Hall of Fame.

[JollyElm]

Not sure if it's still in effect these days, but the 1965 Topps Masandri Murakami rookie card was always stupidly priced only due to him being a Japanese 'first.'

[BobbyStrawberry]

Maybe someone can help jog my memory, but there's a basketball card that has the Mendendez brothers prominently sitting courtside.

[MINES_MINT]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Maybe someone can help jog my memory, but there's a basketball card that has the Menendez brothers prominently sitting courtside.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by MINES_MINT

That's the one! Thanks Richard

[Misunderestimated]

When it comes to the really old cards -- pre-WWII etc. many collector are history buffs and have created greater demand for the better and more interesting players even if they did not quite make to Cooperstown. Maybe its speculation that they might get it someday (or should get it). Anyway, there's additional demand out there for players like Harry Stovey, Bill Dahlen, and especially Pete Browning (the original "Louisville Slugger")...

Someone mentioned Bo Jackson already -- I would emphasize those two Score Company cards of him with baseball bats and the shoulder pads. People love those cards and Score Company cards are otherwise not in high demand at all.

[Schlesinj]

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

https://clutchpoints.com/dwayne-the-...t-auction/amp/

Brock Lesner for UFC and WWE Wrestling
https://www.football-rookies.com/brock-lesnar-9264/

[Yoda]

Perhaps a small premium for Jimmy Piersall who overcame mental illness (mostly) and wrote a book about it, "Fear Strikes Out".

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Perhaps a small premium for Jimmy Piersall who overcame mental illness (mostly) and wrote a book about it, "Fear Strikes Out".

And don't forget the subsequent movie starring Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden.

[Belfast1933]

Am saving this thread for future reference… great ideas for sub-collections and display!

(and thx for explaining the background to that Mark Jackson card - I don’t collect basketball but kept seeing that card pop up as graded and never knew why. Mystery now solved)