NonSports Forum

Net54baseball.com
Welcome to Net54baseball.com. These forums are devoted to both Pre- and Post- war baseball cards and vintage memorabilia, as well as other sports. There is a separate section for Buying, Selling and Trading - the B/S/T area!! If you write anything concerning a person or company your full name needs to be in your post or obtainable from it. . Contact the moderator at leon@net54baseball.com should you have any questions or concerns. When you click on links to eBay on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. Enjoy!
Net54baseball.com
Net54baseball.com
T206s on eBay
Babe Ruth Cards on eBay
t206 Ty Cobb on eBay
Ty Cobb Cards on eBay
Lou Gehrig Cards on eBay
Baseball T201-T217 on eBay
Baseball E90-E107 on eBay
T205 Cards on eBay
Baseball Postcards on eBay
Goudey Cards on eBay
Baseball Memorabilia on eBay
Baseball Exhibit Cards on eBay
Baseball Strip Cards on eBay
Baseball Baking Cards on eBay
Sporting News Cards on eBay
Play Ball Cards on eBay
Joe DiMaggio Cards on eBay
Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
Bowman 1951-1955 on eBay
Football Cards on eBay

Go Back   Net54baseball.com Forums > Net54baseball Main Forum - WWII & Older Baseball Cards > Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used > Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-20-2018, 01:57 PM
slidekellyslide's Avatar
slidekellyslide slidekellyslide is offline
Dan Bretta
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 6,122
Default Who Are The Pioneers Of The Baseball Autograph Hobby?

Just curious as to the history of collecting baseball signatures. Who was first? The most prolific? When did collectors start gathering baseball signatures? I got to thinking about this when an old photo of the 1904 Husker baseball team with Doc Steen popped up in my facebook memories today. He was actively seeking baseball player signatures in the 1930s, but I'm sure there must have been other hobbyists much earlier than him.
__________________
Looking for Nebraska Indians memorabilia, photos and postcards
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-20-2018, 02:09 PM
packs packs is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 8,324
Default

As far as I know autographs have always been popular, although they were more geared towards collecting signatures of people you knew for intrinsic value and not celebrities for monetary value. Autograph books go back to the Civil War period. There are countless photos of Ruth signing autographs throughout his career and being surrounded by immense crowds. Even more people collected Hollywood signatures. I don't know the specific names of people but it seems like they've always been out there.

Last edited by packs; 02-20-2018 at 02:13 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-20-2018, 03:28 PM
prewarsports prewarsports is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,547
Default

Basically collecting baseball autographs did not exist until the mid-late 1920's. It emerged as a hobby in the early 1930's and expanded in 1932 when the Watermans fountain pen company gave away free books to kids all across America and gave them instructions on collecting signatures as a hobby. After that contest, it really took off!

One of the guys who posts here from time to time, Tom Hufford, is one of the pioneers of the hobby and his stories are absolutely amazing and go back to the 1960's. He was a co-founder of SABR and literally has a story about every single ballplayer I have ever mentioned to him. I have told him he needs to write a book, but that thing would be bigger than the baseball encyclopedia. I dont think anybody has been bigger in the hobby for as long as he has.

Rhys
__________________
Be sure to check out my site www.RMYAuctions.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-20-2018, 06:01 PM
tazdmb tazdmb is offline
Fra.nk Rein.stein
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Outside Detroit
Posts: 1,129
Default

Here is an article about King Kelly signing baseballs in the 1890s

http://blog.robertedwardauctions.com/?p=725
__________________
My Photobucket:
http://s184.photobucket.com/user/taz...?sort=3&page=1
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-20-2018, 06:08 PM
tazdmb tazdmb is offline
Fra.nk Rein.stein
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Outside Detroit
Posts: 1,129
Default

I also have seen many GPC from a Collector named Nate Mindel from the late 20s/early 30s. I have never seen a GPC dated earlier specifically just for collecting a sports autograph. The collection has since been broken up.
__________________
My Photobucket:
http://s184.photobucket.com/user/taz...?sort=3&page=1
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-20-2018, 09:23 PM
dgo71 dgo71 is offline
Derek 0u3ll3tt3
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,215
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tazdmb View Post
Here is an article about King Kelly signing baseballs in the 1890s

http://blog.robertedwardauctions.com/?p=725
10 cents for King Kelly....
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-20-2018, 10:13 PM
slidekellyslide's Avatar
slidekellyslide slidekellyslide is offline
Dan Bretta
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 6,122
Default

Great info fellas. Thank you.
__________________
Looking for Nebraska Indians memorabilia, photos and postcards
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Do Any of You Have any Writing Samples from the Hobby Pioneers? leftygrove10 Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 19 07-13-2011 07:58 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:45 AM.


ebay GSB