The Moe Berg Differential

[egri]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

OK, to try and categorize some themes, it feels like here are some reasons a players cards might be higher OTHER than baseball ability:

1. Post baseball career (I think this category would encompass Berg, Uecker, and any another player who went on to be a politician, actor, etc.)

2. Tragedy (Ray Chapman)

3. Overcoming physical disabilities ("Dummy" Hoy, Jim Abbot, etc.)

4. Religious or Heritage (Jewish players, Native American players, etc. or other traits valued by large collector bases).

5. Freak Athlete in Other sports (Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson)

What am I missing here?

Great list, and I'd add when they become a cause célèbre for something in their post-playing career. Think Joe Jackson and Pete Rose being (or not) reinstated, or formerly getting Gil Hodges and Minnie Miñoso into the Hall of Fame.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by MINES_MINT

That's the one! Thanks Richard

[Misunderestimated]

When it comes to the really old cards -- pre-WWII etc. many collector are history buffs and have created greater demand for the better and more interesting players even if they did not quite make to Cooperstown. Maybe its speculation that they might get it someday (or should get it). Anyway, there's additional demand out there for players like Harry Stovey, Bill Dahlen, and especially Pete Browning (the original "Louisville Slugger")...

Someone mentioned Bo Jackson already -- I would emphasize those two Score Company cards of him with baseball bats and the shoulder pads. People love those cards and Score Company cards are otherwise not in high demand at all.

[Schlesinj]

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

https://clutchpoints.com/dwayne-the-...t-auction/amp/

Brock Lesner for UFC and WWE Wrestling
https://www.football-rookies.com/brock-lesnar-9264/

[Yoda]

Perhaps a small premium for Jimmy Piersall who overcame mental illness (mostly) and wrote a book about it, "Fear Strikes Out".

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Perhaps a small premium for Jimmy Piersall who overcame mental illness (mostly) and wrote a book about it, "Fear Strikes Out".

And don't forget the subsequent movie starring Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden.

[Hankphenom]

Any premium for Al Schacht and Nick Altrock for being famous clowns in addition to their playing and coaching careers? Schacht wrote not one but two autobiographies, and claimed to have performed live in front of more people than anyone in history. I think Max Patkin lifted Schacht's shtick in its entirety for several more generations of fans.

[pureball22]

Hoping Jackie Brandt will one day take off! He was last player to face Sandy Kofax in a regular season game striking out for the final out of the 1966 regular season finale! He also graced the cover of the 1961 Sports Illustrated Baseball Issue. (Not some common like Mickey Mantle!!) If anyone is interested, I have a very recently graded SGC 6 EX NM available...beautiful card and very well centered...

[Exhibitman]

Bucky F*****g Dent, as he is known in Boston, finds his way into the collections of many who hate the Sox. Buying on hatred is fun!

[brianp-beme]

Many can claim the "Moe Berg Differential", but only the original can claim to be the catcher who was a unibrow spy.

Brian (of course it is tough to identify that unibrow in this Batter Up, but Moe was a little on the secretive side)

[Belfast1933]

Am saving this thread for future reference… great ideas for sub-collections and display!

(and thx for explaining the background to that Mark Jackson card - I don’t collect basketball but kept seeing that card pop up as graded and never knew why. Mystery now solved)