What is the toughest baseball HOF autograph to obtain?

[prewarsports]

Didn't Keefe sign the Players League ledgers that sold about 10 years ago in Hunts Auction? I dont know if I can find it or not, but I thought he signed some of the pages of the "minutes" of the meetings as the secretary or something.

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

Didn't Keefe sign the Players League ledgers that sold about 10 years ago in Hunts Auction? I dont know if I can find it or not, but I thought he signed some of the pages of the "minutes" of the meetings as the secretary or something.

I forgot about this one. Says it includes Ward, Keefe, Conner, and Welch. yikes!

http://www.huntauctions.com/LIVE/ima...1149&lot_qual=

[judsonhamlin]

I haven't seen George Davis' name pop up. I thought he was almost impossible. Given his long career as a player and manager, that always surprised me.

[mighty bombjack]

George Davis is a good one.

I will go ahead and throw this list out there. I have been collecting HOF autographs for some time now, but have only seriously searched major auction houses for toughies over the last few years. Here are the autos I've never seen examples of, for sale or otherwise. I would love links to any examples that anyone has.

Jack Chesbro (P) - 1946
John Clarkson (P) - 1963
Andy Cooper (P), Negro Leagues - 2006
George Davis (SS) - 1998
Buck Ewing (C) - 1939
Pud Galvin (P) - 1965
Frank Grant (2B), Negro Leagues - 2006
Pete Hill (LF), Negro Leagues - 2006
Joe McGinnity (P) - 1946
Bid McPhee (2B) - 2000
José Méndez (P), Negro Leagues - 2006
Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn (P) - 1939
Bullet Rogan (P), Negro Leagues - 1998
Amos Rusie (P) - 1977
Louis Santop (C), Negro Leagues - 2006
Frank Selee (Mgr) - 1999
Mule Suttles (1B - LF), Negro Leagues - 2006
Ben Taylor (1B), Negro Leagues - 2006
Sam Thompson (RF) - 1974
Cristóbal Torriente (CF), Negro Leagues - 2006
Rube Waddell (P) - 1946
Sol White (Builder), Negro Leagues - 2006
Smokey Joe Williams (P), Negro Leagues - 1999
Jud Wilson (3B - 1B), Negro Leagues - 2006

[HOFautosChris]

I am very much looking forward to the release of Ron Hof autograph book in October. As a hall of fame autograph collector I relish the opportunity see examples of the rarities. Also as far as modern hall of famers there are no non signers. While some very rarely sign for free but there all readily available on the show circuit.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

George Davis is a good one.

I will go ahead and throw this list out there. I have been collecting HOF autographs for some time now, but have only seriously searched major auction houses for toughies over the last few years. Here are the autos I've never seen examples of, for sale or otherwise. I would love links to any examples that anyone has.

Jack Chesbro (P) - 1946
John Clarkson (P) - 1963
Andy Cooper (P), Negro Leagues - 2006
George Davis (SS) - 1998
Buck Ewing (C) - 1939
Pud Galvin (P) - 1965
Frank Grant (2B), Negro Leagues - 2006
Pete Hill (LF), Negro Leagues - 2006
Joe McGinnity (P) - 1946
Bid McPhee (2B) - 2000
José Méndez (P), Negro Leagues - 2006
Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn (P) - 1939
Bullet Rogan (P), Negro Leagues - 1998
Amos Rusie (P) - 1977
Louis Santop (C), Negro Leagues - 2006
Frank Selee (Mgr) - 1999
Mule Suttles (1B - LF), Negro Leagues - 2006
Ben Taylor (1B), Negro Leagues - 2006
Sam Thompson (RF) - 1974
Cristóbal Torriente (CF), Negro Leagues - 2006
Rube Waddell (P) - 1946
Sol White (Builder), Negro Leagues - 2006
Smokey Joe Williams (P), Negro Leagues - 1999
Jud Wilson (3B - 1B), Negro Leagues - 2006

Here are Amos and Rube.

BTW, more than one Amos has surfaced, although they are scarce. Perhaps Jim Stinson can chime in. I recall him selling the one of the most recent examples of "The Hoosier Thunderbolt" that I remember selling.

Here is an example of Rube Waddell from Smithsonian Baseball.

[mighty bombjack]

Thanks Scott. I forgot about that Rusie. It just sold recently, no? Legendary or Heritage, I forget.

That Waddell, on the other hand, I've never seen. Is it property of the Smithsonian then? Any info on its provenance?

[David Atkatz]

Here's my Chesbro, on a 1903 Pittsburgh reunion ball:

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Here's my Chesbro, on a 1903 Pittsburgh reunion ball:

Awesome ball, David!

[Scott Garner]

Delete

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

Thanks Scott. I forgot about that Rusie. It just sold recently, no? Legendary or Heritage, I forget.

That Waddell, on the other hand, I've never seen. Is it property of the Smithsonian then? Any info on its provenance?

Wayne,
The Rube Waddell autograph with inscription is from the verso of a cabinet photo of Waddell that was apparently given to a hunting friend of Rube's. It resides in the collection of David Bowen according to the great book Smithsonian BASEBALL by Stephen Wong.

I hope this helps.