Under appreciated Hall of Famers

[ATP]

These are the two that always come to mind for me.

Stan Musial
For Pitchers: Warren Spahn

[jakebeckleyoldeagleeye]

I always thought Eddie Mathews was one.

[D. Bergin]

I don't own any of his cards, but I've been saying Jimmie Foxx was going to have a big price hike...for about 20 years now.

Looking at his gaudy stat lines, I feel like if Jimmie Foxx had been on the Yankees and Lou Gehrig had played on several teams like Foxx, their price structures would be reversed.

Then again, imagine Jimmie Foxx and Babe Ruth on the same team. They would have had some epic years, but they also might have had some epic parties and drinking competitions, ruining each other just a little bit at a time along the way.

[Seven]

I think Jackie Robinson's prices have become properly valued. I think there's a strong argument to be made that he's the greatest 2nd baseman ever, or at least right there with Rajah.

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I don't own any of his cards, but I've been saying Jimmie Foxx was going to have a big price hike...for about 20 years now.

Looking at his gaudy stat lines, I feel like if Jimmie Foxx had been on the Yankees and Lou Gehrig had played on several teams like Foxx, their price structures would be reversed.

Then again, imagine Jimmie Foxx and Babe Ruth on the same team. They would have had some epic years, but they also might have had some epic parties and drinking competitions, ruining each other just a little bit at a time along the way.

I do think Foxx is criminally underpriced and underrated. Gehrig does edge him out though in terms of who was better. The stats across the board favor Lou. Not even factoring the years Gehrig was robbed due to his illness. It's not like the teams Foxx were on didn't accomplish anything either.

I will say though, Foxx would be better remembered if he didn't fall off a cliff statistically. Through his age 32 Season he had exactly 500 Home Runs, he was in a good position to break The Babe's record. It's unfortunate what happened to him in the end.

[skelly423]

Thanks for all the comments. Jackie Robinson seems like a pretty great example of what I was looking for. I’ve said before that he should be the most expensive non-rookie card in every set he’s in, so there’s room to grow, but his prices have come a long way.

I’m not entirely convinced Mays, Aaron were ever undervalued, I’m inclined to think it’s entirely based on their comparison with Mickey Mantle. All else being equal, I think they’ve always been priced at the very top of the rest of their contemporaries.

[Casey2296]

I would sell every post war Jackie and buy every pre war Ty Cobb I could get my hands on.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I would sell every post war Jackie and buy every pre war Ty Cobb I could get my hands on.

So in 10 years you think Jackie Robinson's popularity will not grow as much as Ty Cobb's?

A lot of people really dislike Ty Cobb.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by skelly423

Thanks for all the comments. Jackie Robinson seems like a pretty great example of what I was looking for. I’ve said before that he should be the most expensive non-rookie card in every set he’s in, so there’s room to grow, but his prices have come a long way.

I’m not entirely convinced Mays, Aaron were ever undervalued, I’m inclined to think it’s entirely based on their comparison with Mickey Mantle. All else being equal, I think they’ve always been priced at the very top of the rest of their contemporaries.

+1 Agreed!

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I don't own any of his cards, but I've been saying Jimmie Foxx was going to have a big price hike...for about 20 years now.

Looking at his gaudy stat lines, I feel like if Jimmie Foxx had been on the Yankees and Lou Gehrig had played on several teams like Foxx, their price structures would be reversed.

Then again, imagine Jimmie Foxx and Babe Ruth on the same team. They would have had some epic years, but they also might have had some epic parties and drinking competitions, ruining each other just a little bit at a time along the way.

Agree with Foxx...3x MVP and put up great numbers for 20 seasons. While his rookie card has appreciated he is clearly overlooked.

[jingram058]

You brought him up. Lou Gehrig. Best first baseman, by numerous accounts, ever to play. Sure, the whole "The Pride Of The Yankees" ALS tragedy still puts him in a certain spotlight, but his cards, relatively speaking, remain quite affordable. You would think he would be in the rarified air of Ruth, Mantle, etc., but that is not the case.

[RCMcKenzie]

I think Morgan and Palmer cards are tied to the value of 60's-80's Topps, no matter how great they were as players. They do pretty well for the sets they are in. It gets worse for 90's stars like Bagwell and Frank Thomas.

For some reason that I don't understand, today's new releases are worth a lot of money, but when I pulled a 1978 Topps Morgan or Palmer, it was worth $0.10 in nm in the Beckect Price Guide. If Babe Ruth only had 70's Topps cards, he would still be the greatest player, but his cards would be very cheap.

[skelly423]

Originally Posted by jingram058

You brought him up. Lou Gehrig. Best first baseman, by numerous accounts, ever to play. Sure, the whole "The Pride Of The Yankees" ALS tragedy still puts him in a certain spotlight, but his cards, relatively speaking, remain quite affordable. You would think he would be in the rarified air of Ruth, Mantle, etc., but that is not the case.

No disrespect intended, but I don't think I've ever seen Gehrig on an under appreciated list before. As far as the hobby (or career statistics) is concerned, Ruth is the #1, greatest of all time, transcendent superstar, and Gehrig's prices will never (and should never) reach that level of Ruth.

That said, he's the most expensive card in any set he is in -- or second most expensive when Ruth is in the set. It's hard to compare prices for players in entirely different ears, but IMO he's absolutely in the next echelon with Mantle, Cobb, Mays, etc.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by skelly423

No disrespect intended, but I don't think I've ever seen Gehrig on an under appreciated list before. As far as the hobby (or career statistics) is concerned, Ruth is the #1, greatest of all time, transcendent superstar, and Gehrig's prices will never (and should never) reach that level of Ruth.

That said, he's the most expensive card in any set he is in -- or second most expensive when Ruth is in the set. It's hard to compare prices for players in entirely different ears, but IMO he's absolutely in the next echelon with Mantle, Cobb, Mays, etc.

No disputing Ruth as THE greatest of all time. But by the time 1933 Goudey came out, he was at the end. Gehrig was in his prime. Same with DeLong. I feel these 2 cards of Gehrig ought to be in the stratosphere. Beautiful cards. They aren't, go figure. I am fortunate to have a 1933 Goudey Ruth and Gehrig. To me, equal value. Not so if up for sale.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by jingram058

No disputing Ruth as THE greatest of all time. But by the time 1933 Goudey came out, he was at the end. Gehrig was in his prime. Same with DeLong. I feel these 2 cards of Gehrig ought to be in the stratosphere. Beautiful cards. They aren't, go figure. I am fortunate to have a 1933 Goudey Ruth and Gehrig. To me, equal value. Not so if up for sale.

James, house rules, every thread needs a card and I don't see one posted here yet. Will you do us the honors?

[jsfriedm]

I think a key part of the phenomenon of a previously underappreciated player gaining in popularity/value is potential constituency, and the most ready-made constituency for such a move is the team fan-base. If a previously down team starts to win for a prolonged period, especially if that coincides with a period of economic and demographic growth for their city, the fan base grows and that could lead to the appreciation of the team's vintage heroes (think Atlanta, Houston, etc.). On the other hand, if a fan base shrinks, there are fewer people who might be inclined to re-discover that team's heroes (I don't think it's a coincidence that so many of the top candidates for underappreciated players are Philadelphia As - Eddie Collins, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove.)

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

James, house rules, every thread needs a card and I don't see one posted here yet. Will you do us the honors?

Totally agree. Here goes...