Rarest HOF or superstar autograph?

lutherlafy · #1 09-21-2009, 07:16 AM

Does anyone know of a Pud Galvin autograph?

GrayGhost · #2 09-21-2009, 08:02 AM

Coach's corner had a Youngs on a Giants ball a few months back, and a Galvin Cut recently.

Of course, if you are looking for AUTHENTIC Youngs or Galvin sigs, they are likely very rare indeed.

prewarsports · #3 09-21-2009, 11:07 AM

There are Keeler letters with his descendants. They may never hit the market but they are still there. I can say though that I have never seen an example. There have been maybe 5 Galvins hit the auction block in my time so he is rare but not impossible. On George Davis, he was unknown until he made the Hall of Fame but I think there are 2-3 known now. Bid McPhee is another rarity even though his late death date would seem to indicate others are out there somewhere. I would say Joss #1 followed by a bunch of 19th century guys like Radbourn, Kelly, Clarkson, Keefe etc.

That 1894 Ledger that sold in the Halper auction had signatures of most of these 19th century guys but that is the "Holy Grail" of autographs and it is not likely to hit the market again for some time.

As a side note, Pete Browning was illiterate but if you have the 19th century Baseball Encyclopedia Book they have a photo signed by Browning that was sent to a newspaper editor in an attempt to prove he could write. It looks like a 1st grader wrote it and it has since been thrown out or destroyed as all that is left is a photocopy.

In my opinion the most valuable autograph in the hobby would be a James Creighton if one was ever found. I think it would sell for 100,000+ but you never know. I never would have thought a Bid Mchee signed letter would be in th 75K range either!

Rhys

ALSO, There have been several (maybe 5-10) Ross Youngs signatures on album pages I have seen in the last 10+ years, and at least 20-30 on team signed Baseballs so he is Rare for the 20th century but not nearly as tough as some of these other guys.

GrayGhost · #4 09-21-2009, 11:39 AM

This is a great topic. Keep the info coming guys. James Creighton, yeah, theres one I didnt even remember.

Interesting aside on someone like say Joss or Creighton, if one did appear. We would be going even more "on faith" as there aren't known legit examples to compare to.

MacDice · #5 09-21-2009, 05:03 PM

I know he not a HOF or a superstar but as anyone seen an autograph of Eddie Gaedel ?

danc · #6 09-21-2009, 05:59 PM

I have seen three authentic Gaedel's in my lifetime. One on a Q and A card (Oser I think sold it like fifteen years ago), a beat up photograph and a government post card sized piece of paper.

As far as rarity goes, there are several (most of the 19th Century) that fit into the 0-5 known to exist category, "if that" and of course this is all debatable to who the most difficult one is.

Radbourne (Coach's Corner has a beauty this week), Delahanty, Galvin, Brouthers, Keefe and even Hill and Torriente.

Ron Keurajian is almost done wit the the mother of all Hall Of Fame Baseball Autograph books (800+ pages) and hopefully at this time next year, it will be available for sale...outdoing (won't be hard) the M.A Baker book.

DanC

springpin · #7 09-21-2009, 06:04 PM

I attended a game of the 1960 WS at Yankee Stadium. Someone pointed to a man in a wheelchair and said, "There is Roy Campanella!" I took my scorecard and ran to him and asked him for his autograph. His reply was, "Son, I can't even hold a pencil." I was 13 years old at the time, and remember the incident as one of my first recollections of shame and embarassment. I felt as if thousands of people were watching me return to my seat after this encounter, and somehow I was the only one who didn't know Campanella "can't even hold a pencil." From this post I gather that 20 years later he had`learned how to sign his name. I thought he was paralyzed for life.

barrysloate · #8 09-21-2009, 06:08 PM

Jim Creighton's signature would of course be a great find, but do enough collectors even know who he is? As I've mentioned a few times on the board, I live just a few blocks from both Creighton's former home and the Excelsior clubhouse; maybe I'll take a walk over there tomorrow and see if I can find any signed material lying around.

I once had two separate letters signed by Ned Hanlon near the end of his life. I wish I kept them. How rare is his signature compared to other contemporary Hall of Famers?

Sean_C · #9 09-23-2009, 01:54 AM

From what I understand, Campanella was able to sign later in life with the aid of a special glove that held the pen.

I don't know if he really qualifies as a superstar or not, but has anyone ever seen a Hub Collins signature?

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