Who are the tougher living Baseball HOFers?

[hawaiian bam bam]

Hello,
in your opinion, who are the toughest living Baseball HOFers to get to sign nowadays? Here is my list:

1. Tom Seaver-Rumor is that he is done signing
2. Monte Irvin-I received a note from him when I sent TTM saying due to health he is no longer signing autographs.
3. Willie Mays-even if he signs now, his signature is crap(hardly legible)
4. Hank Aaron- see same as above for Mays
5. Willie McCovey-Heard his health is getting worse and so suffers his signature.

what is your list/thoughts?

[MacDice]

I think you have nailed the list pretty well. Aaron and McCovey at least will still do a signing or two a year.

Aparacio is hard as he doesn't live in the states. When he does travel he has an entourage which drives up the price

Also heard Bench isn't healthy

[dgo71]

Depends on the setting. Most living HOFers are accessible through signings, but if you're talking about your chances of getting them to sign for free in an in-person setting, there are a few tough guys.

Jim Rice is an absolute miserable human being and would probably be close to the top of my list. Roberto Alomar, if you're trying to get him on a HOF specific item, will simply not do it. He charges a premium for HOF items at signings, and for free he will flatly refuse to sign the HOF inscription, HOF plaque postcards, etc.

[packs]

Tricky question. Those guys are tough to get in person but not tough in a general sense.

Here's my list:

Sandy Koufax
Joe Torre
Pedro Martinez
Frank Thomas
Greg Maddux

Just a partial list off the top of my head. The newer players are going to be hard for a while, but I think when they get old they'll do the circuits. Torre has always been hard because he's a Yankee. The price of anything Koufax tells you what you need to know, even if he was signing during spring training.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by packs

Sandy Koufax
Joe Torre
Pedro Martinez
Frank Thomas
Greg Maddux

Interesting because I thought the first four were pretty easy and regulars on the show or private signing circuit. Thomas in particular seems to be signing up a storm and can be had through a number of reliable sources for around $60.

Maddux I agree with. My sense is he doesn't like signing and won't be seen at shows. This in combination with the fact that his signature is an awful scrawl, it is a forger's dream. I would only obtain in-person or through a rock-solid source.

[packs]

Private signing for Koufax and Torre yeah, but you're going to pay through the nose. So I still consider them tough because the price point will limit supply.

I could be wrong about Thomas. He was supposed to sign in White Plains shortly after induction but cancelled and I haven't seen him come around the NY area since. But again, I don't know about every signing. When he was a player he was a very tough in person signature.

I haven't seen Pedro advertised at a show signing since he got in or before. But again, I'm limited to NY area shows and don't delve much into private signings.

[bender07]

Koufax is always tough, expensive to get on a specific item.

Morgan is not doing well. I didn't hear that about Bench nor that Seaver doesn't sign anymore? That latter is really surprising.

[Laxcat]

I'm sorry to hear of Mr. Irvin's poor health. Best show experience I ever had was sliding for him. I learned a lot about baseball listening to his stories.

[tazdmb]

Irvin is the toughest, simply because doesn't sign anymore, followed closely by Mays, who did a signing of 50 flat items earlier this year, Koufax is possible if you are willing to fly to ST, and has probably has signed more autographs in the last two years than the previous ten combined. Seaver had not really signed since being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Aaron did a signing last week.

I think everyone living who has been inducted in the HOF in the last 5 years is active on the show circuit. Just because they charge a lot of money didn't make them tough.