Name a modern player of any significance who has NO certified autographs

[mrmopar]

Besides the obvious selections who died before certified autographs became mainstream (think 1990 was the first recognized pack inserted certified auto but it wasn’t really mainstream for several more years), can you think of a player who should have had one but didn’t.

“Cuts” technically count, but anyone could be made into a cut. I am talking about guys who are or were alive during the heyday of certified autographs. Someone that could have easily been included but for some reason was not. Most every player you can think of seems to have at least 1 or more, but there are still some clear omissions.

It could be contractual issues, players refusal to participate or just an oversight by all of the card makers to include this person.

I will start us off with two that bug me to this day, both Dodgers of course:

Kenley Jansen

This is a complete mystery to me. He was a premier closer and by all means should have been included. I have to believe that this is something he is choosing to control. Anyone k ow him and can ask?

Wes Parker

I do have a manufactured cut that includes Parker, but he never had a signed card that I am aware of. I understand his health has declined significantly and including him is unlikely if not now impossible.

I am sure I could come up with more that I’d like to see, but between Archives, Fan Favorites, Heritage and sets like Timeless Teams, Greats of the Game and others, so many of the lesser stars and semi stars have been included and it still shocks me when I pick one up, put it away with the rest of my stuff and realize I didn’t already have a certified autograph of the guy.

Let’s see if we can come up with some names that belong in an upcoming Archives or Heritage set and maybe catch someone’s attention that can do something about it before it’s too late!

Any sport welcome but my knowledge only really covers baseball well enough.

 

[madbull34]

Japanese MLB players that had some sort of impact that do not have any certified autos off the top of my head:

• Hideki Irabu
• Kazuhiro Sasaki
• Kazuo Matsui
• Kosuke Fukudome

 

[Pinbreaker]

Japanese MLB players that had some sort of impact that do not have any certified autos off the top of my head:

• Hideki Irabu
• Kazuhiro Sasaki
• Kazuo Matsui
• Kosuke Fukudome

Looking on BaseballCardPedia, these were the only auto's I found.

• 2008 Upper Deck Timeline 1992 UD Minor League Autographs 121 Kosuke Fukudome
• 2009 Upper Deck Icons Icons Autographs IC-KF Kosuke Fukudome

I'm glad I snagged this Kazuhiro Sasaki Auto when I did since they are so rare.

 

[mrmopar]

Japanese MLB players that had some sort of impact that do not have any certified autos off the top of my head:

• Hideki Irabu
• Kazuhiro Sasaki
• Kazuo Matsui
• Kosuke Fukudome

I needed Sasaki for my trophy collection. I guess out of the 4 listed, he had maybe the most impactful brief career, as ROY and 2X AS. I didn't realize he racked up all those saves as well. Relievers tend to fly under the radar (Jansen too).

I don't want to minimize their contributions, but all 4 had pretty brief careers and I can easily see how they could have been skipped. Maybe getting them to sign at the time was a feat, as guessing they may have returned to their home country between seasons too. Heck, Nomo made the biggest splash at the time and even he is only scarcely represented, something I wish I would have realized at the time and maybe I'd have one of his autos.

 

[BucCollector]

Dave Giusti was an All-Star in 1973 and led the NL in saves in 1971. He collected 20 MVP votes and 20 Cy Young Award votes between 1970 and 1975. When he retired was in the top 15 career save leaders, despite beginning his career as a starter (with 35 complete games). Still living and according to TCDB has never had a certified auto.

 

[mrmopar]

Dave Giusti was an All-Star in 1973 and led the NL in saves in 1971. He collected 20 MVP votes and 20 Cy Young Award votes between 1970 and 1975. When he retired was in the top 15 career save leaders, despite beginning his career as a starter (with 35 complete games). Still living and according to TCDB has never had a certified auto.

That is a good one. Timeless Teams or Heritage was probably his best shot.

Each time I put away new cards, I try to pay attention to who I don't have a certified card for. I know there are plenty that don't exist outside of cuts, but finding candidates that are still alive is getting harder and harder. I think the card makers as an overall group have done a pretty decent job of catching a lot of the players people might (and sometimes don't) want. I am sure i COULD FIND A FEW 80S mariners who don't have one. Not sure about Ruppert Jones or Bruce Bochte, but both were pretty big deals in the small time market that was the Mariners back then.

 

[BucCollector]

Richie Zisk is that 1980s Mariner you are looking for. A two-time All Star, Zisk collected 48 MVP and 9 ROY votes over his 13 year career. With the Mariners, he was the 1981 AL Comeback Player of the Year. He appears on minor league cards as a manager or coach between 1996 and 2010. With 198 cards in all, Zisk has a number of Leaf relic cards but no certified autos.

 

[George K]

Hard to believe that Zisk doesn't have a certified auto because he'd be a good fit for those Topps Archives type sets.

I don't think Topps has ever done a certified auto card of Mario Soto, but Panini recently made some.

 

[mrmopar]

Hard to believe that Zisk doesn't have a certified auto because he'd be a good fit for those Topps Archives type sets.

I don't think Topps has ever done a certified auto card of Mario Soto, but Panini recently made some.

Soto does have a Panini, as I just bought one not that long ago.

I don’t believe Claude Osteen has a certified auto. Another Dodger connection, of course. I have his entire Topps run signed, from 1959-1976, no 61T.

Ted Sizemore may be another as I think about 60s and early 70s Dodgers.

 

[George K]

I mentioned those, but it sure would be nicer to have one without the airbrushing of the team logos - because, to me, eye appeal is a big part of collecting these types of cards.

 

[WizardofOz1982]

Soto does have a Panini, as I just bought one not that long ago.

I don’t believe Claude Osteen has a certified auto. Another Dodger connection, of course. I have his entire Topps run signed, from 1959-1976, no 61T.

Ted Sizemore may be another as I think about 60s and early 70s Dodgers.

Osteen has a Leaf issue and a couple Historic Autographs issues in the last few years but nothing from Topps or Panini that I can think of.

 

[jmc855]

Tony Conigliaro?

 

[deaconblues63]

Tony Conigliaro?

Conigliaro died in 1990. Upper Deck didn’t release the first certified auto found in packs until later that year.


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[George K]

Ron Necciai. The only pitcher to strike out 27 batters in a professional baseball game.​

He's never had a certified auto card. Heck, he's only had several issued cards. He's 92 - and still signs TTM.

 

[mrmopar]

Tony Conigliaro?

He died before autos became commonplace. He'd have to be a cut.

 

[mrmopar]

Ron Necciai. The only pitcher to strike out 27 batters in a professional baseball game.​

He's never had a certified auto card. Heck, he's only had several issued cards. He's 92 - and still signs TTM.

He would have definitely made a decent Heritage Real One or Archives subject.

 

[mrmopar]

Osteen has a Leaf issue and a couple Historic Autographs issues in the last few years but nothing from Topps or Panini that I can think of.

If it was a card auto, then I'd count it. Those booklets that have a card and a cut auto I don't count.

 

[jmc855]

Conigliaro died in 1990. Upper Deck didn’t release the first certified auto found in packs until later that year.


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