Who collects HOF autographs and didn't have a Bert Blyleven before his induction?

[mrmopar]

This is more for fun than anything. I know plenty of people speculate about rookies and such. I assume there are people that do the same for established players with regard to their chances at being an AS, award winner or eventually a HOFer.

I have numerous sub-collections within my autographed collection. I collect HOFers, AS members, award winners along with anyone who has just had a few decent seasons or even lead their league in a statistical category. Some I don't chase as hard, like league leaders, but if I come across a lot and a player I had hardly heard of lead his league in Walks one year, I toss it into the collection!

I was just curious to see how many HOF auto collectors got caught w/o a Blyleven (or Alomar for that matter)? Some collectors may be purists and wait until a member is actually elected, where as others are betting it will eventually happen and stock up. Where are you in this spectrum?

I added Blyleven and Alomar long ago, both as good players as well as AS members, league leaders and/or award winners.

 

[Ellis Shoe]

I am sad to say that I got caught without him . I did get Alomar some time ago. It isnt that I didnt get Bert because I didnt think he would get in. I just haven't seen much success from him.

 

[Dsrsn5]

I am sad to say that I got caught without him . I did get Alomar some time ago. It isnt that I didnt get Bert because I didnt think he would get in. I just haven't seen much success from him.

He signs cards for a $20 fee if you wanted to try it..

 

[nexus8793]

I was just thinking about this the other day. I have neither, unfortunately. However, with Blyleven I'm not worried, I've just been waiting until I see an item I really like and then I'll send it to him and get it signed. I doubt he'll even change his fee. He's viewed himself as a HoF'er for a long time, so it seems unlikely to me. Alomar, however is a different story. I regret not picking up one of his autos before his induction. I had my eye on several 1997 or 1998 Donruss Signature series autos that I really like but I was always just too stingy. I really should've just paid the extra 1 or 2 bucks in retrospect. He's been "good" at TTM lately, though I personally think it's probably a ghostsigner.

BTW, just read a bit of your blog. I'd never noticed it before, but I really enjoyed it. We definitely have some similar collecting interests (though I already knew that) and it's not a bad read at all

 

[mrmopar]

Thanks. You and your want list actually focused me on collecting AS signatures. I have always chased auto'd cards and always went for decent players, but your theme was interesting to me and I ran with it. I copied your want list, but unfortunately I lost my list some months back. It was a trade thread and I failed to update it and it disappeared. I will eventually inventory everything and start again, but I am avoiding the work involved!!

Thanks for checking out the blog. I wish I could be more motivated to write more. I enjoy it, but fight writers block constantly...well, actually I lose out to procrastination more so than that!

 

[nexus8793]

I've tried and failed at the blog thing many times. I guess I'm just not a very self-motivated person (bad for someone working on a PhD as I'm finding out lately haha). I've also always been too lazy to put up scans anywhere. Maybe someday.

I really need to update my want list as well and my signature for that matter. Since I've been making a decent salary the last year or so, I've been able to really put a dent in the AS collection, I think I'm up to somewhere around 40-45% though I have not calculated in quite a while. I'm reaching the point where a good deal of the players involved are dead, obscure or both, or huge stars that command a premium. Current players are also proving annoying, as I have trouble finding autographs that are aesthetically pleasing to me (I try to avoid stickers as much as I can, though it's almost impossible these days) and also current players seem to consistently fetch pretty high prices that are in my opinion just not going to hold for that long. I've actually started another theme autograph collection, and I'm working on getting autos of all the players that played during the 1998 Season. It's proving an interesting challenge in some different ways. Finding Latin Players who had a cup of coffee in the late 90s, went back home, and disappeared into the woodwork never having been included in a certified set or ever signed much at the ballpark is proving to be the definitive one for this project.

 

[houbb]

I didn't get Alomar until a year and a half ago, but I got my first Blyleven at Arlington Stadium back in '73, when he was with the Twins. Back then Blyleven didn't sign much TTM, and your best bet was IP. Glad he finally made it, not because I have a signed RC, but because I long felt he was deserving. It also took a while before 300 game winners, such as Phil Niekro and Don Sutton, made the Hall because they also had a bunch of losses, but nothing like Blyleven's wait.

On a side note, I also like your blog. The story about Feller is awesome. One of my all time favorite players, and a true class act. I also love that signed Pinson card you have on the site. Very nice!

 

[DaNotoriousNIC]

Never sent to Bert because I really didn't think he would ever get the pity vote, but this does bring some hope to me though because now that he is in they almost have to let Jack Morris in. I did get Almoar though last year.

 

[abeabe]

I never send TTMs to players who sign a fee, you can pick up a cert usually alot cheaper then their signing fee. Players like Dawson, Snider and several others charge more for their auto (some for charity, some for their own gain) then you can pick up a nice cert for. On about the same level Don Larsen GOTG certs can picked up on ebay cheaper then his TTM signing fee all day long. I was thinking of sending to Steve Garvey, so I may break my streak, but as far as Im aware he only charges $3 per auto for charity, dont think I can get a cert for $3. A George Kell with HOF 83 inscription sold yesterday for $6+ with shipping around $10. And thats for an HOFer who has been deceased going on 2 years now. A weaver cert didnt get a single bid at $4.99 opening bid. I cant find a garvey cert that cheap. Back to topic at hand, if we took a list of all the players that charge TTM, I'd bet we could find a nice cert for cheaper then more then 50% of their signing fees. So unless its any item you need to complete a certain set, and your just looking to own an auto of every HOFer, Im saying certs are the way to go. They are guaranteed to be authentic and with the card designs today, the cards look a whole lot nicer then the 76T or whatever other blyleven card you may get signed.

 

[deltacards]

I have had 2 previous successes with alomar ttm... I have a blyleven gu/cert. auto in my pc. I picked it up before he was inducted but i also have non hof all stars in my pc

 

[jackatl]

I luckily had both of them. Traded for a 2000 Greats Blyleven a while ago, and got a 2001 Sweet Spot Alomar for cheap off the bay last year some time.

I have gotten most of the ones I think will be in the Hall that are still active/just retired, but now I am to the borderline guys. Not to hijack your thread or anything, but I wonder if you guys could tell me who you think will make it out of this crowd. I think most will probably make it, but wonder what you think:

Ivan Rodriguez
Ichiro Suzuki
Jeff Bagwell
Jack Morris
Omar Vizquel
Andy Pettite
Todd Helton
Curt Schilling
Mike Mussina

 

[mrmopar]

I agree that many players who charge can be found on certified issues for cheaper. Depends on what you want/need signed and what the money goes for. I don't do much in the way of TTM, but wouldn't mind helping an older player who didn't play in the big buck era or a charity. I am still on the fence for a 1984 Topps Ron Kittle. Kittle's autos are CHEAP, except that he only signed his 84T for charity, $25!!!

I will take partial blame for that. If you are looking on ebay, I bid on just about any cheap Garvey auto that is listed. Most sell for $5 or more plus s/h, mainly because of me. I have all but anything brand new, so I don't go all that high on most, so the other bidders have to take the remaining blame for that.

I never send TTMs to players who sign a fee, you can pick up a cert usually aI was thinking of sending to Steve Garvey, so I may break my streak, but as far as Im aware he only charges $3 per auto for charity, dont think I can get a cert for $3. A George Kell with HOF 83 inscription sold yesterday for $6+ with shipping around $10. And thats for an HOFer who has been deceased going on 2 years now. A weaver cert didnt get a single bid at $4.99 opening bid. I cant find a garvey cert that cheap.

 

[nexus8793]

I will also agree that certs tend to be the way to go in general. However, I am particularly picky about what I like aesthetically speaking, and I would generally disagree with your statement that current card designs today are the height of attractiveness. I'd honestly take a nicely signed 1973 Topps Blyleven than a ugly 2010 stickered monstrosity with a shiny "refractor" finish. Blyleven is in a few sets however that look quite nice, like the 2000 Greats mentioned earlier as well as a few others. I am also fond of signed vintage cards so I might be a bit biased.

 

[houbb]

I will also agree that certs tend to be the way to go in general. However, I am particularly picky about what I like aesthetically speaking, and I would generally disagree with your statement that current card designs today are the height of attractiveness. I'd honestly take a nicely signed 1973 Topps Blyleven than a ugly 2010 stickered monstrosity with a shiny "refractor" finish. Blyleven is in a few sets however that look quite nice, like the 2000 Greats mentioned earlier as well as a few others. I am also fond of signed vintage cards so I might be a bit biased.

"Stickered monstrosity." That has got to be one of the best lines of the new year. I love it!