Toughest signed cards possible

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Does anyone know or have a list of the toughest signed baseball cards to have been obtained? The player only had a super short window of a year or two to sign a card before their death, like Ken Hubbs, Foxx '61


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[stat192]

Since I am collecting a signed 1969 Topps set, I think Minnie Rojas. In 1969, he played the whole year out of the country, so you would not be able to get him in the states. In 1970, he was driving to Spring Training with his family and had a terrible automobile accident that left him paralized and killed one of his daughters. One person has told me he has a signed one, but I have yet to actually see one.

[Exhibitman]

There are really two aspects to this: rarity of the card and rarity of the signature. If you want a signature on a specific card--like I collect signed exhibit cards--then even a relatively common signer can be hard to find. Jack Dempsey is the most common prewar heavyweight champ but I've never seen a legitimate signed exhibit card.

[Gmrson]

From my early collecting days, a '78 Topps Lyman Bostock and a '79 Topps Thurman Munson.

[slidekellyslide]

For some reason Ricky Wright will not sign his 1987 Topps card and apparently nobody knows why.

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

For some reason Ricky Wright will not sign his 1987 Topps card and apparently nobody knows why.

He probably has a stash of them somewhere for his family after he is gone.

[djson1]

Originally Posted by mschwade

He probably has a stash of them somewhere for his family after he is gone.

I'm sorry, but the stash of his cards (signed or not) would only be used as a table leg prop. Sorry if that sounds mean.

[SetBuilder]

Originally Posted by mschwade

He probably has a stash of them somewhere for his family after he is gone.

That's what author Cormac McCarthy is doing with first edition copies of The Road.

He has said publicly several times that he will not sign a first edition of that book, but you still see fake signed copies on eBay every now and then.

That's when you realize how delusional some people can be when they, a) don't do basic research before spending $400 on an autograph, and b) even when presented with evidence that an author/athlete does not sign a specific item, they still reason that maybe one slipped by somehow. Maybe an autograph collector put a false dustjacket on The Road and tricked McCarthy into signing it! It's possible.

[jbhofmann]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

For some reason Ricky Wright will not sign his 1987 Topps card and apparently nobody knows why.

Do you blame him? Just look at the thing...

[dgo71]

Brian Cole, a Mets prospect, passed away in a car accident leaving ST in 2001. A few of his '01 cards came out about 3-4 weeks prior. They aren't widely collected but incredibly tough to find signed. His '01 UD Victory and UD Vintage (3-player with Grant Roberts and Timo Perez) lead the list, as well as his '01 Topps RC with Chris Wakeland and Jason Conti

It's been talked about here I think that Doug Flynn almost never signs his 1986 Topps card. He did sign a small quantity (5 l think) for charity and I believe they sold in the $500 range.

1987 Topps Al Pulido is tough because he was back in Mexico by the time it was issued.

Byron McLaughlin's 84 Topps is very difficult to find as he was on the run from the FBI when it was issued and fled the country soon after. I don't think anyone knows to this day where he is, though the rumor is he now lives in France.

Others that are rare due to the player passing away soon after the card was issued:

1989 Score/Fleer Donnie Moore
2002 Topps Total Darryl Kile
2003 Topps Total Dernell Stenson
1987 Topps Dick Howser

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

There are really two aspects to this: rarity of the card and rarity of the signature. If you want a signature on a specific card--like I collect signed exhibit cards--then even a relatively common signer can be hard to find. Jack Dempsey is the most common prewar heavyweight champ but I've never seen a legitimate signed exhibit card.

Good point, I would say not the rarity of the card, but just the signature on the card itself, like some of the examples mentioned.


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[theshleps]

This is sad but I got a 2009 UD signed by Nick Adenhart. I got it just before he left spring training in 2009 in March. It had about a 3 week window to be signed.
I need Cobb on 60 and 61 Fleer which are very tough and a few 61 Scoops that I do not know if anyone has- Cobb, Cochrane and Gaedel

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by theshleps

This is sad but I got a 2009 UD signed by Nick Adenhart. I got it just before he left spring training in 2009 in March. It had about a 3 week window to be signed.

Just to clarify - this thread is about cards where few, if any, signed examples could possibly exist.

There are plenty of "certified autograph" Nick Adenhart cards out there, so if you just want "a" signed Adenhart card and don't care about manufacturer or year, you won't have any problem finding one. Those are not the type of cards being discussed here.

Am I correct in my understanding of this thread?

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Wow, thanks! This is awesome to read, please keep it going, I almost want some of these because of how unique and scarce they are


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[UnVme7]

I know there's some out there on team baseballs etc, but does anyone own a Ross Youngs single signed baseball, card or photo? Team signed baseball I'm sure, but I would think 1 of those 3 has to be fairly tough. And I'm not sure if there was a card produced around his death or not that would make his auto on it that much rarer.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Wow, thank you all for the knowledge and growth of this thread, this is so unreal to learn about, a huge perspective from an opposite side of collecting


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[hawaiian bam bam]

For some reason roger Clemens doesn't sign his 1987 donruss diamond kings card. I've only seen one ever.

[egri]

Originally Posted by hawaiian bam bam

For some reason roger Clemens doesn't sign his 1987 donruss diamond kings card. I've only seen one ever.

I thought I'd read somewhere that Clemens also refuses to sign his rookie card, but I could be mistaken.

[bbcard1]

Joe DeSa's 1986 Topps card is pretty tough. He didn't play in the majors in 86 and died in a car accident in december. Saw where one went for $125 recently on ebay.

[jad22]

Do not recall ever seeing a Maurice Stokes signed 57 Topps.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by hawaiian bam bam

For some reason roger Clemens doesn't sign his 1987 donruss diamond kings card. I've only seen one ever.

The story I heard was that Rocket had a friend who was an artist and Clemens wanted his friend to be able to paint the portrait of him for the set instead of Dick Perez. I don't know if that's true or not, it seems unlikely he would have even known the card was coming out beforehand unless there was some special permissions he had to give.

That was the only thing I ever heard about his reasoning but it's definitely true, or at least was for a long time. I saw him at a charity signing in Winter Haven many springs ago and when I presented that card he told me he wouldn't sign it. He had a small basket filled with a bunch of his different cards and told me I could change it out for any one of them. In the line I didn't really have time to ask him why, and I've always regretted not asking.

Since the whole PED thing he's been signing very well when he's around, I wonder if maybe he's relaxed on that policy.

[EldoEsq]

Cool thread to resurrect!

I need one of those Rickey Wrights...87 Topps is probably one of the most collected autographed sets. Lotta collectors with almost no inventory. Just sucks that I would have to pay more for a Rickey Wright than a Sandy Koufax....if I could even find one!

[7nohitter]

I love reading about players refusing to sign certain cards....like Kelly Gruber with the (90? 91?) Leaf set to artificially enhance his card's value when he does eventually sign for his kids.

I've read blurbs about why Wright won't sign, but nothing too encompassing.

I've never heard about Clemens and the '87 DK.

[Republicaninmass]

I'd be hesitant on that one
I dont know the seller well, bjt doesnt look like any I've seen at first glance

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[Topps206]

The seller has 99.8% positive feedback. As much as I'd love to shell out the cash for this, now isn't the best time as I'm trying to save money.

[steveinphilly]

In 1983, the Phillies put out a series of Nostalgia Night postcards, with Dick Perez paintings (sets are easy to pick up on eBay). On August 26, the greatest third basemen in Phillies history card was issued, with Puddin' Head Jones, Pinky Whitney, and some guy named Schmidt. Jones died of cancer at age 58 on October 18, less than two months later, in Cincinnati. Whitney died in 1987. It's rare that a Mike Schmidt autograph is the cheapest one in a bunch, but on that card it is. I have seen the card signed by Whitney and Schmidt for around $300. I've never seen one signed by Jones as well, although a dealer in Philly told me he had one that was stolen from his table at a card show in the 1990s. I can't imagine there are a lot of those--one basically would have needed to write to Jones during those few weeks he was alive and then followed up with Whitney within 4 years. I imagine a lot of people trying to collect the set signed might have focused on the active players like Schmidt during the season and then mailed to the old-timers in the offseason, by which time it would have been too late for Jones.

[Republicaninmass]

Jones was also a notoriously difficult signer, so doubtful a signed one exists.

[jimtigers65]

1966 Topps Fritz Fisher. He only appeared in one game and pitched 1/3 of an inning. His era was 108.00. Haven’t seen any autographs of him.

[tazdmb]

There are some tough (87 Ricky wright) cards in the upcoming REA auction.

[Republicaninmass]

I've been looking for a 52 Al Benton for over a decade

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[theshleps]

I have a 2009 UD Adenhart that had a 3 week window. Love to sell it.
61 Fleer Cobb and 61 Scoops Cobb and Gaedel- not sure if any exist

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by theshleps

I have a 2009 UD Adenhart that had a 3 week window. Love to sell it.

61 Fleer Cobb and 61 Scoops Cobb and Gaedel- not sure if any exist

Love that Adenhart you have. Very cool piece.

I swear I've seen at least 1 copy of a Cobb 61 Fleer and I believe it was trimmed and skinned.

[Big Six]

Adenhart was a good dude...he had tons of potential...




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[pops]

I think I have an incredibly rare signed card, possibly one of a kind? A 1949 Bowman Ernie "Tiny" Bonham. He died in September of '49. Very short window for him to sign, only months between the production of the card until his death. If someone else has one or is aware of one please lmk. Very curious, I haven't seen another yet. Jim Stinson was parting out a set of signed '49 bowman and I was able to get about 12 cards including the Bonham.