Hall of Fame Yearbooks.

[Lordstan]

Jarrod,
Thanks.

My collection of these began innocently enough with me getting the 1966 edition, the year I was born, and starting to get autographs on it.
Back in the 1980's, my father and I were dealers who went to about 40 shows per year. These older versions just weren't common to find. I then acquired the 1957 and 1977 editions. I thought they were just a great medium for autographs. At the time a lot of older HOFers were still alive, so getting them was easy. It also helped that in the early 80s Mantle and Dimaggio were $7 per autograph. The next event in the time line was a group purchase of about 20 of them at one of HOF weekend shows. From then on I was hooked. The ones in my collection that have no signatures have been acquired later. I just don't think it is worth it to spend the ridiculous auto prices today for group items like these, so I left them blank. Over the last 5 yrs or so I have added in the books from the 1940's.

Here is the 1966, 1957, and 1977 editions.







Adam,
That would've been an awesome book to own. Too bad you sold it. Now if someone had a Gehrig signed 1939 edition.....that would be incredible.


An interesting fact I just learned is that because Gehrig was a special election, there was no HOF induction ceremony and no evidence that he ever visited the HOF at all. It's interesting that it never dawned on me that there was no famous speech quoted from. One would think that given the emotional response to his speech at Yankee stadium, there would've been some mention of a speech in Cooperstown as well. I'm sure the sentiment from Lou would've been the same and equally moving.

Thanks all for your comments.

Best,
Mark