Question for those members who collect Hall of Fame Autos

[Johan Santana 57]

I am debating starting to just collect HOF autographs and had a question to those who are trying to get as many as possible. Do you try and stick to the same type of items when buying, for example cut index cards, or do you just try and find any auto of a player? Just curious to see what others have done. I already have a lot of autographed baseballs and pictures so I have a little head start but I know baseballs get pricey quickly for the top HOF compared to say cuts or other items.

Thanks
Tom

 

[gomatt]

The pride of my collection is Hall of Fame autographs. My criteria is Upper Deck or Topps as they have been the top producer of quality cards and autographs since 2000. I typically only collect the autographs that are completely in the card window - too many cut autographs have letters that were cut to fit into the window. I am not interested in those. And I'm not really interested in the Hall of Fame plaque autographs. Nothing wrong with them, but I prefer autographs originally written on a normal sheet of paper.

Sometimes, it's more realistic to just buy a PSA/DNA autograph. Take Leon Day, for example. His only Upper Deck Cut Autograph is VERY low numbered. Few were made. And I've seen them sell for a few hundred. I'd rather just buy a PSA/DNA or perhaps the new Limited autographs in that case. I can't justify spending an extra $200 for a card just because it's low numbered.

My IDEAL cut autograph would have a good picture of the player on the card. I honestly view these cards as pieces of art. And I think that, for the rare ones, they'll be solid investments over time.

 

[Johan Santana 57]

The pride of my collection is Hall of Fame autographs. My criteria is Upper Deck or Topps as they have been the top producer of quality cards and autographs since 2000. I typically only collect the autographs that are completely in the card window - too many cut autographs have letters that were cut to fit into the window. I am not interested in those. And I'm not really interested in the Hall of Fame plaque autographs. Nothing wrong with them, but I prefer autographs originally written on a normal sheet of paper.

Sometimes, it's more realistic to just buy a PSA/DNA autograph. Take Leon Day, for example. His only Upper Deck Cut Autograph is VERY low numbered. Few were made. And I've seen them sell for a few hundred. I'd rather just buy a PSA/DNA or perhaps the new Limited autographs in that case. I can't justify spending an extra $200 for a card just because it's low numbered.

My IDEAL cut autograph would have a good picture of the player on the card. I honestly view these cards as pieces of art. And I think that, for the rare ones, they'll be solid investments over time.

Thanks for the reply. I feel like cut autos on cards for the older players would be more expensive since cards seem to sell more than cuts (collectors see 1/1 or low numbered and seem to pay high amounts). Am I correct in that assumption? I may try and stay away from cards, and may try to stick to baseballs on some lower guys, and nice looking cuts of harder to find players.

Also, would you consider a multi-signed baseball of 20 players (I think most are HOFs), 1 auto for each player, or do you try to find single signed pieces?

Thanks
Tom

 

[Gwynn545]

There's something about having pictures of the players...I know it's just a matter of preference. For me, 16x20s are the only way to go. Big pictures, big autos (usually), you just need room to display them may be the real downside.

Of course, when you limit yourself to one "type" of auto, you are essentially limiting the players that you could potentially get. I doubt I could ever get a 16x20 signed of Leon Day...

 

[Johan Santana 57]

There's something about having pictures of the players...I know it's just a matter of preference. For me, 16x20s are the only way to go. Big pictures, big autos (usually), you just need room to display them may be the real downside.

Of course, when you limit yourself to one "type" of auto, you are essentially limiting the players that you could potentially get. I doubt I could ever get a 16x20 signed of Leon Day...

That's a good point I didn't even think of. Might just help if I try to get whatever I can of a player. I don't know how anyone could display nearly 300 16X20s lol. Imagine the framing costs alone!

Tom

 

[Sean_C]

My preferred medium is on the HOFers Rookie Card, or failing in that, his earliest possible card I can find. After that, I try to get them on whatever card I can get, including the old HOF Exhibit Post cards (Hugh Duffy, Eddie Collins, Larry Lajoie), or whatever else I can find (I have Connie Mack and Judge Landis on Boy Scout Law cards for crying out loud!). As for team signed baseballs, I highly recommend them, as they are usually much cheaper than single signed baseballs, have less of a chance of having been altered (signatures removed, etc.), can sometimes be more impressive to show people, and also allow you to have something to sell should you ever come across a single signed item you'd rather have instead. I have Al Simmons and Mel Ott on team signed baseballs, and have a team signed San Francisco Seals that includes Joe DiMaggio, along with his future teammate Tony Lazzeri and a guy that happened to be in the neighborhood (Ty Cobb). I'm currently using it as my Lazzeri example, since I already have other Cobb and DiMaggio signed items, but a piece like that can make your collection truly unique.

Bottom line, there isn't a wrong way to collect them, and buy what you like.

 

[Johan Santana 57]

My preferred medium is on the HOFers Rookie Card, or failing in that, his earliest possible card I can find. After that, I try to get them on whatever card I can get, including the old HOF Exhibit Post cards (Hugh Duffy, Eddie Collins, Larry Lajoie), or whatever else I can find (I have Connie Mack and Judge Landis on Boy Scout Law cards for crying out loud!). As for team signed baseballs, I highly recommend them, as they are usually much cheaper than single signed baseballs, have less of a chance of having been altered (signatures removed, etc.), can sometimes be more impressive to show people, and also allow you to have something to sell should you ever come across a single signed item you'd rather have instead. I have Al Simmons and Mel Ott on team signed baseballs, and have a team signed San Francisco Seals that includes Joe DiMaggio, along with his future teammate Tony Lazzeri and a guy that happened to be in the neighborhood (Ty Cobb). I'm currently using it as my Lazzeri example, since I already have other Cobb and DiMaggio signed items, but a piece like that can make your collection truly unique.

Bottom line, there isn't a wrong way to collect them, and buy what you like.

Thanks for the info!

Also, I see lots of HOF Plaques in my search, they seem to be fairly cheap compared to other examples, any particular rhyme or reason to that?

Tom

 

[Mizzourah]

If it's just for my personal collection, I like to buy index cards and make my own cut signature cards. I don't know how well they would do on the secondary market, but the index cards are fairly inexpensive anyway, and they're just for my PC. There's several of them in my signature here.

 

[homerun28aa]

I always try to get signed cards or on card autos with some kind of cert not usually slabbed but the guys that are dead for awhile I get cut auto cards, although CERTAINLY you have to pay a premium compared to index cards or other certified cut pieces.

 

[Johan Santana 57]

I always try to get signed cards or on card autos with some kind of cert not usually slabbed but the guys that are dead for awhile I get cut auto cards, although CERTAINLY you have to pay a premium compared to index cards or other certified cut pieces.

I definitely would not get a sticker unless it was the ONLY option there was haha.

 

[Sean_C]

The Gold HOF plaques are pretty cheap because they are fairly common (as you have found), don't have much value outside of the signature, and aren't the nicest looking of items due (dark color, etc.), and are an awkward size for cheap holders. I have a bunch of them (including some tougher ones like Covelski), but don't ever list them because they are so common. The Perez-Steele cards are a similar size, but are much nicer due to the detailed artwork and somewhat more limited production numbers. There are also some old black and white HOF plaques available of older stars, which are tough to find and can for a lot of money.

If you happen to find any of these signed, I'd highly recommend them (forgot I had Griffith as well):

[quote="Sean_C":1cr309ts]My preferred medium is on the HOFers Rookie Card, or failing in that, his earliest possible card I can find. After that, I try to get them on whatever card I can get, including the old HOF Exhibit Post cards (Hugh Duffy, Eddie Collins, Larry Lajoie), or whatever else I can find (I have Connie Mack and Judge Landis on Boy Scout Law cards for crying out loud!). As for team signed baseballs, I highly recommend them, as they are usually much cheaper than single signed baseballs, have less of a chance of having been altered (signatures removed, etc.), can sometimes be more impressive to show people, and also allow you to have something to sell should you ever come across a single signed item you'd rather have instead. I have Al Simmons and Mel Ott on team signed baseballs, and have a team signed San Francisco Seals that includes Joe DiMaggio, along with his future teammate Tony Lazzeri and a guy that happened to be in the neighborhood (Ty Cobb). I'm currently using it as my Lazzeri example, since I already have other Cobb and DiMaggio signed items, but a piece like that can make your collection truly unique.

Bottom line, there isn't a wrong way to collect them, and buy what you like.

Thanks for the info!

Also, I see lots of HOF Plaques in my search, they seem to be fairly cheap compared to other examples, any particular rhyme or reason to that?

Tom[/quote:1cr309ts]

 

[AMAZIN HOF COLLECTOR]

I only collect "pack certified" autographs. NO STICKERS!!!
I also have some Legendary Cuts "cuts" but no index cards.
Not trying to get everyone, just the ones that have cards.....
I only collect one auto card of each HOFer as well....

Heres some of the PC (newer cards not scanned)

http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b291/ ... ?start=all

 

[Ty Hope]

The majority of my PC is HOFers. I try to stick with on-card autos only. Cuts when the players are deceased.

 

[OscarOne]

I have mentioned these cards a couple times, so I hope it is not getting old...but I am a big fan of these sweet spot cards. They come in normal and index card sizes, and both look great. They are cheap to buy, and you can mail them off and not have to worry about them not coming back. Also: while some current players don't like to sign them, retired guys have no problems.

 

[Sean_C]

While value-wise they probably aren't much more valuable than a signed index card, I agree that they are much nicer looking.

I have mentioned these cards a couple times, so I hope it is not getting old...but I am a big fan of these sweet spot cards. They come in normal and index card sizes, and both look great. They are cheap to buy, and you can mail them off and not have to worry about them not coming back. Also: while some current players don't like to sign them, retired guys have no problems.

 

[OscarOne]

Well, I think they will be super cool someday when I win the lottery and can all my sweet spot cards slabbed...they look great slabbed, and it would up the value too.

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

The idea for me has always been not to get the same item, but to have as much diversity as possible in my collection. I only have a couple of baseballs, but have cards, cuts, 3x5s, programs, books (LOVE books), contracts, checks, etc. I have actually sought out items that weren't in the PC yet, but I am at the point were I will take anything of a player I don't have, though, because the stuff is getting damn pricey!

As Sean said, you can't go wrong in making a choice if it feels right to you. You may like uniformity (like MaineMule, who has a fantastic collection of 3x5s) or you may just go for what's aesthetically pleasing. You want the stuff to hold value, but enjoying it personally is more important.

Good luck and post your acquisitions. Choosing to collect HOFers was the best choice I've ever made in this hobby. Ask any and all questions, and have fun!

 

[MaineMule]

The idea for me has always been not to get the same item, but to have as much diversity as possible in my collection. I only have a couple of baseballs, but have cards, cuts, 3x5s, programs, books (LOVE books), contracts, checks, etc. I have actually sought out items that weren't in the PC yet, but I am at the point were I will take anything of a player I don't have, though, because the stuff is getting damn pricey!

As Sean said, you can't go wrong in making a choice if it feels right to you. You may like uniformity (like MaineMule, who has a fantastic collection of 3x5s) or you may just go for what's aesthetically pleasing. You want the stuff to hold value, but enjoying it personally is more important.

Good luck and post your acquisitions. Choosing to collect HOFers was the best choice I've ever made in this hobby. Ask any and all questions, and have fun!

....wow, just reading this and there I am.... thanks Wayne!!

As indicated, I am a creature of habit, thus I only really collect 3x5's, GPCs or similar and I have worked to get them all slabbed by PSA (with a couple of JSA slabs). I also have on-card certified autos of just about every HOFer who has such a card- this does not include "cuts."

Here's my "slab" collection if you want a look. I also have 12-13 that I need to send to PSA.

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/ ... ?start=all

Good luck and most of all have fun and enjoy the ride.......

 

[Johan Santana 57]

MaineMule and Bombjack were just the posters I had hoped would respond to this post!

Thanks for the information, it has been very helpful. I already picked up my first cut tonight, Chas. Gehringer.

I also have about 60 HOF autos already from my autograph collection.

Tom

 

[fkw]

autographs are just a small part of my collection...

I like to collect personal checks, and some HOF plaque PC, along with signed vintage cards and postcards.
I also collect nonHOFers too but usually well known ones, ie ODoul, Babe Herman, Pepper Martin, etc.

I especially seek officially dated items ie the checks and also fan request signed (postally used) postcards

I dont collect anything cut, blank (ie 3x5's) or anything new, and try not to pick up anything signed that is not contemporary to the players career (In other words, I dont collect new items of older players). Also dont collect recently retired HOFers.

many of the checks are cheaper than the new cut stuff, and obviously far more likely to be genuine comparably