Frank Robinson cards seem to get the shaft...

[JasonL]

I am just underway in building my player collection of Frank, so I was a little dismayed to see this thread at first, but what the heck...it's no secret we have a 500 HR club member with several attractive cards in abundant supply. Keep the prices low and allows schmucks like me to swoop in and get them. I love Frank's cards from 1958 through 1964.
You're right though about the issue years...Frank's prices in the 1960s compare to those of Eddie Mathews, but those Mathews cards of 1956 and older are much tougher and more expensive to add to the collection...

[Exhibitman]

One of my all time favorite players but I think he was unfortunate to have played in an era where he was not even among the three best starting outfielders: I'd take Mantle, Mays and Aaron over him (and perhaps even Clemente). He was perhaps the fourth or fifth best--and he is priced accordingly. Kinda the Ken Norton of his era (stuck behind Ali, Frazier and Foreman).

I do think personality has a role too. Mays was probably better than Mantle--except for a few peak seasons--but is priced lower than Mantle IMO in part because he is a real turd in a punchbowl at shows, while Mantle for the most part was cordial or even friendly at times. I know that he had that effect on my collecting. Mays was my favorite as a little kid but when I met him (or rather had him not even say hello in reply to my greeting as he was signing my baseball at a show) I sold off my collection of his cards. Sometimes meeting your idols is a bad thing...