1980's Baseball HoF Set...thoughts?

Axtell

Thanks for the insight on my first post on this...here's the list of cards I've culled with the insight of those posts...some of these players are already in the hall, others are locks, and a couple are on the fence. I've listed question marks next to the ones I am either unsure if that would be considered their 'rookie' card for the HoF registry set, or looking for insight as to their chances in the hall.

1980 Topps Ricky Henderson (lock)
1982 Topps Cal Ripken, Jr. (lock)
1983 Topps Tony Gwynn (lock)
1983 Topps Wade Boggs (in already)
1983 Topps Ryne Sandberg (in already)
1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens (lock)
1984 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett (in already)
1985 Topps Mark McGwire (lock)
1986 Fleer Update Barry Bonds (lock)
1987 Donruss Greg Maddux (lock)
1987 Donruss Rafael Palmeiro (looks good, but won't be first ballot)
1987 Donruss Barry Larkin (career .815 OPS, is he a first ballot?)
1988 Donruss Tom Glavine (?) (see Raffy)
1988 Donruss or Score Traded Roberto Alomar (?) (what are his chances?)
1988 Fleer Edgar Martinez (?) (see Alomar)
1988 Score Traded Craig Biggio (another non-first ballot, but should get in)
1989 Donruss Curt Schilling (?) (lock? winning the series for boston punch his ticket?)
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. (lock)
1989 Upper Deck Randy Johnson (lock)
1989 Upper Deck Gary Sheffield (iffy...won't be first ballot, but odds in his favor)
1989 Upper Deck John Smoltz (?) (should be a lock...dominating both ends of the pitching spectrum)

So far it's a list of 21 players...without doing any other research, is this above average for a decade? Below? Just now I think we are able to put this era of baseball into historical perspective, and for someone like me, who really began their love of baseball at this time, it's incredibly interesting.

Would love any and all feedback on my list.

Thanks!

DeutscherGeist

For Tom Glavine, his desired rookie card is the 1988 Fleer Glossy or even the 1988 Score Glossy.

Axtell

<< <i>For Tom Glavine, his desired rookie card is the 1988 Fleer Glossy or even the 1988 Score Glossy. >>



Hmm would PSA consider those for this type of set? I know they go with update sets, just not sure on the glossy ones.

BigRedMachine

Interesting thread.

According to "The Top 200 Sportscards in the Hobby" (which most of us received when we joined PSA and which was written by PSA's Joe Orlando), the top and most desireable rookie cards of Ripken and Bonds are the 1982 topps traded and 1987 fleer cards, respectively. I guess that is debatable but Orlando's opinion probably outweighs yours and mine.

Sheffield, Martinez, Alomar, and Biggio are all iffy as Hall of Famers, none will be first ballot. Sheffield has put up the bulk of his numbers in the last few years, an era which may have been tarnished by recent accusations of steroid use. Martinez should be in, but voters are always hard on guys who DH. Alomar and Biggio also have the big numbers when compared over the history of baseball, but not compared to others in their decade. MVP's and World Series rings help, have either of these two had either?

Again, interesting post, I like your list. Good luck in aquiring them all.

jrdolan

Raffy's in the 500 HR Club, so I don't think there's any question.

On Ripper, 1982 Topps Traded may be more "desirable" because it's the first card picturing him alone, and is certainly more valuable because of scarcity compared to the main set. But the fact that a regular Topps set featuring Ripken was issued BEFORE the traded set, probably means regular '82 Topps will be his rookie card in the registries. For Puckett and Clemens, '84 Fleer Traded are the rookies only because regular sets did not include them until '85.

There are contradictions coming, and already here. For example, we assume '86 Fleer Update will be Bonds rookie in the HOF registry because that is regarded as his toughest and most desirable card of the many "traded" sets issued in '86. Yet look at the 500 HR Club. PSA chose '87 Fleer to be his rookie card.

When you get into the set explosion of the mid to late '80s, when everyone has 8 or 12 cards that are called "rookies," it will be a tough choice with many different opinions. And later on? Pujols has more 2001 rookies than I have fingers and toes and hairs on my head, almost. Which will they choose to be the "official" rookie? The variation with the lowest 1 of whatever print run? That shuts out most collectors. Sheesh, good luck.

MajorDanby

<< <i>Alomar and Biggio also have the big numbers when compared over the history of baseball, but not compared to others in their decade. MVP's and World Series rings help, have either of these two had either? >>



Looking at alomar's decline over the last 5 years, i would tend to think that he would not get in the hall. But, after sandberg got in, i think that alomar has a good shot.

As far as biggio, he still has a few years left in him. I think that voters should take into consideration that he has played 3 difficult positions in his career (C, 2B, CF) and was a gold glover in two of those positions (C, 2B). I think that as long as he doesnt completely tank like alomar has, i think he'll get in. Besides, he might play his entire career on one team...that's an achievement in itself!

Axtell

I've been under the understanding for the HoF rookie set it's that player's first appearance on a major company card...when that happens with more than one company, then it's the most desirable.

I agree, it's going to get sticky in a hurry. PSA will want to maintain the integrity and value of the HoF set, but at the same time, with all the watered down sets, how will they be able to choose one 'best' rookie card?

And I figure at some point I will go through the 50s, 60s, and 70s to see how many HoFers had their rookie cards in those eras...will be (at least to me) an interesting comparison.

Axtell

Ok so I sorted the existing HoF set registry, and here's what I discovered:

1970s- 10
1972 TOPPS CARLTON FISK
1973 TOPPS MIKE SCHMIDT
1974 TOPPS DAVE WINFIELD
1975 TOPPS ROBIN YOUNT
1975 TOPPS GEORGE BRETT
1975 TOPPS GARY CARTER
1976 TOPPS DENNIS ECKERSLEY
1978 TOPPS EDDIE MURRAY
1978 TOPPS PAUL MOLITOR
1979 TOPPS OZZIE SMITH

1960s- 21
1960 TOPPS CARL YASTRZEMSKI
1960 TOPPS WILLIE MCCOVEY
1961 TOPPS BILLY WILLIAMS
1961 TOPPS JUAN MARICHAL
1962 TOPPS GAYLORD PERRY
1962 TOPPS LOU BROCK
1963 TOPPS WILLIE STARGELL
1964 TOPPS PHIL NIEKRO
1965 TOPPS JOE MORGAN
1965 TOPPS STEVE CARLTON
1965 TOPPS CATFISH HUNTER
1965 TOPPS TONY PEREZ
1966 TOPPS JIM PALMER
1966 TOPPS FERGIE JENKINS
1966 TOPPS DON SUTTON
1967 TOPPS ROD CAREW
1967 TOPPS TOM SEAVER
1968 TOPPS NOLAN RYAN
1968 TOPPS JOHNNY BENCH
1969 TOPPS REGGIE JACKSON
1969 TOPPS ROLLIE FINGERS

1950s- 21
1951 BOWMAN WHITEY FORD
1951 BOWMAN MONTE IRVIN
1951 BOWMAN NELLIE FOX
1951 BOWMAN MICKEY MANTLE
1951 BOWMAN WILLIE MAYS
1952 TOPPS HOYT WILHELM
1952 TOPPS EDDIE MATHEWS
1954 TOPPS ERNIE BANKS
1954 TOPPS HANK AARON
1954 TOPPS AL KALINE
1955 TOPPS SANDY KOUFAX
1955 TOPPS HARMON KILLEBREW
1955 TOPPS ROBERTO CLEMENTE
1956 TOPPS LUIS APARICIO
1957 TOPPS DON DRYSDALE
1957 TOPPS BILL MAZEROSKI
1957 TOPPS FRANK ROBINSON
1957 TOPPS BROOKS ROBINSON
1957 TOPPS JIM BUNNING
1958 TOPPS ORLANDO CEPEDA
1959 TOPPS BOB GIBSON

Funny how there were exactly the same number from the 50s and 60s, and then the huge drop off with the 70s. Granted, there could still be some more, but I seriously doubt we'll see more than 4 or 5 more inductions from this era. With the list I've compiled, it should be back up around 20 players with rookie cards from the 80s.

NickM

At least 4 more from the '70s are likely to make it, based on voting histories - Dawson, Rice, Gossage, and Sutter. It would not be surprising if Blyleven and Morris eventually made it as well. Trammell's rookie card is already in. Garvey, Murphy, and Parker could end up being inducted too.

Nick

DeutscherGeist

Smoltz has 1988 Fleer Update card

DeutscherGeist

There are some other cards that have an outside shot:

1984 Donruss Don Mattingly (his non-steroid numbers make him look better now, defense wizard)

1987 Donruss David Cone (he did not hit the 200 win plateau, but was one of the best, big gamer)

1984 Donruss Joe Carter (that one home run in the WS, great RBI machine)

DeutscherGeist

I have a hard time believing that Jack Morris will never make the HOF.

Axtell

<< <i>There are some other cards that have an outside shot:

1984 Donruss Don Mattingly (his non-steroid numbers make him look better now, defense wizard)

1987 Donruss David Cone (he did not hit the 200 win plateau, but was one of the best, big gamer)

1984 Donruss Joe Carter (that one home run in the WS, great RBI machine) >>



Hmm Cone has a career era of 3.46, and didn't get 200 wins, or 3000 strikeouts. I find it difficult to believe he'd ever be considered.

The Mattingly arguement is he just didn't play long enough. The Munson debate mirrors Mattingly's.

Joe Carter is a .259 BA, not 400 HRs, and a career .464 slugger.

I'd find it difficult, if not impossible, to find any reason for these 3 getting in. Is it coincidence that Mattingly and Cone were both Yankees, therefore in the limelight more? I'd suspect if they had played and had the same numbers in say, Montreal, we'd have forgotten them.

Mac53

1989 Donruss Baseball's Best # 324: Sosa.

doncherry

<< <i>There are some other cards that have an outside shot:
1984 Donruss Joe Carter (that one home run in the WS, great RBI machine) >>



Joe Carter failed to receive 5% of the vote in his first year of voting so he is off the ballot

CDsNuts

I love looking at the names that are on the ballot every year. I think Juan Guzman is on this year. I think he's a lock.

Lee