1930's Debut Year Baseball Autographs, MOST RARE

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I would confidently place money on my exemplar file for this period being the most extensive in existence. With that in mind, I can assure you that illiteracy, at least insofar as signing one's name is concerned, was happily not present within the MLB fraternity (the Negro Leaguers may be an entirely different matter altogether; I am just commenting on the actual Major Leagues, not the revamped, politically correct version of the Major Leagues). Also, off the top of my head, there isn't a single 1920-onward player for whom at least one exemplar does not exist. This is of course different from any of their autographs being in private hands. If there are any players from this time period for whom nothing exists, not even a draft registration card, I am completely forgetting them. This doesn't seem like something I would forget. If I am wrong in this, the number of players would be absolutely minuscule.

Interesting, and thanks for the information. I must have overestimated the amount of illiteracy a hundred years ago. I'm not sure why you think it would be different for the Negro League players. Incidentally, my friend's father was very close to Billy Cox.