[Huck]

Think about it, what would be the best item for multiple signatures of hof players?

When, the majority of my hobby funds switched from cards to autographs and memorabilia, initially I was not impressed with Perez-Steele. I always had the player sign a ball and depending on the player a b&w photo. Over the years, as I watched signatures on signed balls fade and bleed to oblivion, I realized that I should have given Perez-Steele postcards more consideration. The cards were the perfect item for signatures.


At the time (late 80's early 90's) I could not find an oversize picture of the HOF for players to sign. Eventually, a collecting friend took a picture of the hall, had a friend airbrush away the occasional visitor and an oversize picture of the hall was the new medium for hof signatures. Currently, there are 50 plus signatures on the HOF picture. I never had a player sign a ball again.


Well over a decade ago, I had an idea for a Bill Mazeroski piece and I thought the standard Perez-Steele postcard would work. Now, I have about 30 of the post cards signed and I am still holding out hope for the final two possible gets (Brett and the impossible Koufax). I wish that I had started with Perez-Steele sooner, because I would have had another 10-12 signed cards of some of the greats, especially Mantle and Ted Williams. Personally, I thought Bill Purdom was the best artist of that era. I have about 10 signed Purdom lithographs. Kreindler is the best I have ever seen. Neither artist did post cards, and from conversing with both men; both stated the difficulty with the licensing when working with MLB, the HOF, players or the players estate. I wish Kreindler would produce lithographs of living players. I believe limited edition of Kreindler lithographs of living players would crush. I would be a buyer.

There is a vendor at the CSA show who sells framed autographed pictures of multiple sports. He has been setting up at CSA forever. He has the entire Perez-Steele celebration set (one or two cards unsigned) which is just an awesome piece.