Toughest signed cards possible

[mr2686]

I think the 1964 Topps Giants Clemente and Farrell are pretty tough to find signed.

[stewbacca]

I am working on getting the 1976 topps set signed by everyone and besides Mike Miley passing in January of 77, Danny Thompson and Danny Murtaugh also passed in Jan of 1977. There is a 76 Miley on eBay for an unreal amount,a few Thompsons that all look different and I did see a Pirates TC signed by Murtaugh that went for over $250. Also, Mike Marshall and Andy Messersmith don't like to sign at all so their cards can run $100-$200.

[HexsHeroes]

.

. . . I will throw out there that the 1966 Topps signed Chuck Dressen card is a bear to locate, even though he did not pass away until August 1966. A second heart attack earlier in the season curtailed his strength, as well as his availability.

[912Shooter]

Since its' okay to cover other sports, I can throw out the near Holy Grail of signed MLS cards. From the 1999 Upper Deck MLS set, Jefferson Gottardi. He is pictured as a member of the Tampa Bay Mutiny, he was only with the club for a portion of the season and I think just made over ten actual appearances in the US. Injury problems kept him out a lot in Tampa. The MLS card set came out mid to late in the season, I was doing in-person auto collecting in the Tampa Bay area and he was long gone from the club by the time the cards came out.

He played sporadically a couple more seasons for South American clubs and then tragically developed ALS at a very young age and passed away (with medical treatment in Cuba, not exactly an easy place to have caught up with him either). I have never met anyone working on that set with a signed card from him. I recall one on Ebay going for a wild sum and it wasn't a particularly pretty signature.

[Stanesq]

I believe the card came out on Thursday and Daryl Kile was found dead on Saturday morning.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by Stanesq

I believe the card came out on Thursday and Daryl Kile was found dead on Saturday morning.

WOW! Not quite that short of a window, the card was out about 2 weeks, but that's really splitting hairs in the grand scheme of things. That's a really tough one!

[Stanesq]

Originally Posted by dgo71

WOW! Not quite that short of a window, the card was out about 2 weeks, but that's really splitting hairs in the grand scheme of things. That's a really tough one!

Ive always wondered what the exact release date was of the 2002 Topps Total set. I was told it was two days before he died but if its two weeks that gives more hope.

[Stanesq]

Dont see many Tim Horton cards around

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by Stanesq

Ive always wondered what the exact release date was of the 2002 Topps Total set. I was told it was two days before he died but if its two weeks that gives more hope.

Well, not a LOT more hope, but hope nonetheless.

An additional problem concerning finding that card signed is that Kile had literally hundreds of other cards out at the time, so the chances of someone having that particular card and selecting it over another are remote. You have to feel like anyone who chose that card to get signed was doing so for a very specific reason (i.e., decided to work the set immediately when it came out, Cardinals fan, etc.) which reduces the chances of it hitting the open market. I'd be shocked if the number of signed copies of that card was even in double digits.

EDIT: Seems the window was exactly one week. This site says 6/15 was the release date:
http://www.thecardkid.com/bb02tppstotalrtl-36p.html
Kile passed away on 6/22.

[Gmrson]

Originally Posted by mr2686

I think the 1964 Topps Giants Clemente and Farrell are pretty tough to find signed.

I don't recall where I got my Farrell. I got my Clemente in a Tony Carrifal(from PA) auction although I doubt it's authenticity. Unfortunatly sold the set 20 years ago. Building that was the most fun I've had in the hobby. Dick Stuart was the toughest for me and he was alive!

Originally Posted by stewbacca

Also, Mike Marshall and Andy Messersmith don't like to sign at all so their cards can run $100-$200.

Mike Marshall is doing a Chris Potter signing early next year for those that really need him.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Gmrson

I don't recall where I got my Farrell. I got my Clemente in a Tony Carrifal(from PA) auction although I doubt it's authenticity. Unfortunatly sold the set 20 years ago. Building that was the most fun I've had in the hobby. Dick Stuart was the toughest for me and he was alive!




Mike Marshall is doing a Chris Potter signing early next year for those that really need him.

It's odd to me that Dick Stuart was a tough autograph...he really enjoyed the spotlight and fame.

[Gmrson]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

It's odd to me that Dick Stuart was a tough autograph...he really enjoyed the spotlight and fame.

He disappeared for a long time. I had heard he was a little bitter about the whole "Dr. Strangeglove" comments and getting an ovation for picking up a hot dog wrapper one time. My first one had thumbprints and was a little smeared. I got it at the '89 National thanks to word of mouth from friends of friends. The story that went along with it was he did a show and showed up drunk, signed for about 10 minutes and left. He was non-existent and by sheer luck the same friend that help me get it was getting Reggie Jackson's autograph at a National Sporting Goods Association show in Atlanta and Dick Stuart walked up and Reggie seemed star-struck meeting the man that held the minor-league season home run record! My friend got a business card and I sent a couple '64 Giants, both returned personalized to me. He did one or two shows after that that I can remember. Part of the toughness of the card signed could be that it is an SP and a popular set? I don't really know if any of his other cards are tough signed.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Gmrson

He disappeared for a long time. I had heard he was a little bitter about the whole "Dr. Strangeglove" comments and getting an ovation for picking up a hot dog wrapper one time. My first one had thumbprints and was a little smeared. I got it at the '89 National thanks to word of mouth from friends of friends. The story that went along with it was he did a show and showed up drunk, signed for about 10 minutes and left. He was non-existent and by sheer luck the same friend that help me get it was getting Reggie Jackson's autograph at a National Sporting Goods Association show in Atlanta and Dick Stuart walked up and Reggie seemed star-struck meeting the man that held the minor-league season home run record! My friend got a business card and I sent a couple '64 Giants, both returned personalized to me. He did one or two shows after that that I can remember. Part of the toughness of the card signed could be that it is an SP and a popular set? I don't really know if any of his other cards are tough signed.

I don't think he was bitter about "Dr Strangeglove" and from some of the stories that I've read he spread the story about the hot dog wrapper himself...When he was in Lincoln he was so disinterested in playing defense that he would go out in the outfield and have his glove stuck under his armpit while he shelled peanuts....he also at times would barely move for a fly ball and if he let it go he would blame the center fielder for not going after it...the manager Larry Shepard got angry at him and moved him to first base so he would have to stay alert.

I know I'm biased, but he's such an interesting character that I'm surprised nobody has written a book about him yet.

[Gmrson]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I don't think he was bitter about "Dr Strangeglove" and from some of the stories that I've read he spread the story about the hot dog wrapper himself...When he was in Lincoln he was so disinterested in playing defense that he would go out in the outfield and have his glove stuck under his armpit while he shelled peanuts....he also at times would barely move for a fly ball and if he let it go he would blame the center fielder for not going after it...the manager Larry Shepard got angry at him and moved him to first base so he would have to stay alert.

I know I'm biased, but he's such an interesting character that I'm surprised nobody has written a book about him yet.

Thanks for the insight! All I had were collector stories, which we know can come from nowhere! It would be nice if someone wrote a book while some of his teammates are still with us.

[theshleps]

I have a Farrell and have seen a half dozen or so over the years- also seen a few Clemente but above my budget

[912Shooter]

Not hijacking the thread but I can throw a fairly tough football in the mix, Shane Curry on his 1991 Pro Set update. Shortly after the card was issued he was fatally shot in an off season altercation. His card came out in the mid to late season, so the window for signing wasn't open very long.

[MooseDog]

No hijack at all…I'm interested in seeing what tough signed cards are in all sports. I'll throw in a hockey one here.

In the 1960s and 1970s hockey players were about the easiest IP autographs of all. I'm serious that just about ALL the players were obtainable, time and circumstances permitting.

However there was a guy who played for the St Louis Blues named Bob Gassoff. Mostly noted as an "enforcer" he was killed in a motorcycle accident shortly after the 1976-77 season.

Gassoff was an A-1 absolute d**k about signing autographs, at least when the Blues were in town to play the Seals. I was not able to obtain his autograph even once, and one time I was the ONLY one getting Blues autographs after the game.

He only has three cards but I imagine there are few signed 1976-77 OPC cards out there.

[MooseDog]

If I recall Aurelio Rodriguez wouldn't sign his 1969 Topps card since it is a picture of Angels batboy Leonard Garcia.

There are a few of those signed by Garcia, but I heard he stopped doing that too.

This is all third and fourth-hand, so if anyone knows for sure, please chime in.

[LEIDEMEG]

From the 50's and 60's sets guys that come to mind off the top of my head that are very tough are
Howie Fox
Curt Roberts
Hank Thompson
Jim Umbricht
Hal Bevan
Murray Wall
Jack Meyer
Sam Jones
Chico Ruiz
Dixie Howell(White Sox)
Rick Joseph

I will try and think of a few others

[footlong]

I will aaa to the '50's list, Bill Sarni, simply because he never signed.

[sylbry]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

If I recall Aurelio Rodriguez wouldn't sign his 1969 Topps card since it is a picture of Angels batboy Leonard Garcia.

There are a few of those signed by Garcia, but I heard he stopped doing that too.

This is all third and fourth-hand, so if anyone knows for sure, please chime in.

[Robextend]

Does anyone have a signed 1971 Topps card of Gil Hodges? Did 1972 Topps come out after he passed?

[polakoff]

I just sold a 1970 Cal Koonce card in rough shape made out "To Pam" for $30 at auction on ebay. I was hoping to get the 99 cent starting bid. Had no idea his signatures were worth that kind of dough. Looked on ebay and I guess he has almost no signed cards. Any idea why?

[egri]

For my 1953 Topps project the toughies are:

Howie Fox d.1955
Vern Bickford d.1960
Bobo Newsom d.1962
Fred Hutchinson d.1964
Cliff Fannin d.1966
Ellis Kinder d.1968
Vern Stephens d.1968
Don Hoak d.1969
Hank Thompson d.1969

Then there are quite a few guys who died in the 1970s and 1980s, including one (Luke Easter)who was murdered, and another (Herman Wehmeier) who died days before he was supposed to testify in an embezzlement trial. The the poster who was asking if Fox had signed his 1954 Topps, one of the other members here told he he saw a signed '54 Topps Fox sell for over $1500 a few years ago.

[pclpads]

Originally Posted by polakoff

I just sold a 1970 Cal Koonce card in rough shape made out "To Pam" for $30 at auction on ebay. I was hoping to get the 99 cent starting bid. Had no idea his signatures were worth that kind of dough. Looked on ebay and I guess he has almost no signed cards. Any idea why?

He passed in 1993, so that may attribute to the scarcity.

[egri]

Red Sox infielder Harry Agganis died a few weeks after his 1955 Topps card was released. I've heard of signed examples of it, but I've never seen one myself.

EDIT: This article from SCD estimates that there are fewer than 100 signed cards in existence.