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Non-Hall of Famer Autographs - Tuff Stuff

Anyone read the article on elusive non-Hall of Famer autographs in this month's Tuff Stuff?

Anyone hiding any John Denny, Joe DeSa or Pelle Lindbergh autographed cards out there?

Comments

  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
    I didn't see the article, but I definitely have some John Denny autographs
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.


  • << <i>I didn't see the article, but I definitely have some John Denny autographs >>




    John Denny autographs $30 to $60 a pop.

    From the Tuff Stuff article:

    John Denny (Estimated Autograph Value - $30 to $60)

    This workhorse right-hander toiled for 13 big league seasons and captured the 1983 National League Cy Young Award. Along the way, he consistently shunned autograph requests and has become an elusive signature, said Fredrich.
  • schr1stschr1st Posts: 1,677 ✭✭
    Was Byron McLaughlin on the list? His is a rather interesting story if he wasn't.
    Who is Rober Maris?
  • Byron McLaughlin was not on the list. I would like to hear the story though.
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    I was a big time autograph hound from about 1973-1982, then sporadically after that. John Denny was a Grade A a**hole when it came to autographs, just a real nasty guy all around.

    Some other toughies I remember from that era:

    Mike Marshall (ex-Dodger/Expos pitcher) but he was nice, if a bit preachy about it
    Kirk Gibson (actually spat in my direction)
    Ron Reed (Braves pitcher)
    George Hendrick
    Jerry Grote
    Von Hayes

    Interesting that none of these guys save for Gibson had reason to be so uptight.


  • schr1stschr1st Posts: 1,677 ✭✭
    Mike Marshall is one of the toughest autographs out there, bar none. As for McLaughlin, I'll see if i can get a certain member of the boards to tell the story, since he has one of his autographed cards.
    Who is Rober Maris?
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They complained about Mike Marshall a zillion years ago. I had heard he turned down Steve Garvey!

    Everytime he came into a game - the sports announcers had to mention that he had a Masters in Kinesiology - as if that gave him some kind of advantage?

    It's like the commericial - "we're here in Hershey PA to talk with people about chocolate" - what? Every person who lives near the factory is an expert in quality chocolate?

    I was stationed at Fort Leavenworth next to the big Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary but I have to confess - I know nothing about how to build or use an electric chair?

    mike

    Mike
  • Didn't see the article, but I've always wondered about the rarer, non superstar autographs.

    Slightly on topic, but he's a Hall of Famer, has anyone EVER gotten an Eddie Murray auto in person or through the mail? I've heard he's one of the toughest living Hall of Famers to get.

    -Ian
  • Here's the list of baseball players that were identified in the article as tough, yet coveted non-Hall of Famers:

    Baseball - pre 1970

    1. Joe Giard - toughest member of 1927 Yankees. Autograph = $1000 to $3000
    2. Clancy Smyres - played two games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944. Still alive. Has adamently refused all request since he retired. The "Holy Grail" for Brooklyn Dodgers collectors. - Autograph = $1,000+
    3. Duke Maas - pitched one-third of an inning with the '61 Yankees, died in 1976. The toughest member of the '61 Yankees- Autograph = $300 to 1,000

    Baseball - post 1970

    1. Mike Marshall - A notoriously evasive signer. Did one card show a few years ago. Autograph = $200 to $500
    2. John Denny (as noted above) - Autograph = $30 to $60
    3. Joe DeSa - White Sox backup infielder - Everyone needs him for the '86 Topps set - Autograph = $80
    4. Randy Myers - notoriously tough signer. Never ever signs mail requests. Autograph = $10 to $20
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Although he avoided interpersonal communication with other humans as much as possible, when you did meet Murray he was a very nice guy and was happy to sign. I have never heard of anyone that does not work in the media say Murray was a di*k to them.

    Lee
  • scooter729scooter729 Posts: 1,730 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Didn't see the article, but I've always wondered about the rarer, non superstar autographs.

    Slightly on topic, but he's a Hall of Famer, has anyone EVER gotten an Eddie Murray auto in person or through the mail? I've heard he's one of the toughest living Hall of Famers to get.

    -Ian >>



    To illustrate your point on Eddie Murray, here's a story of mine. Back in 1985, my uncle was friends (still is, but aside from the fact) with Fred Lynn. I was 12 at the time, so my uncle asked Lynn to get an Orioles team-signed ball for my birthday. Lo and behold, I got one (still have it!), signed by every member of the Orioles, except for one. No, Frank Robinson even signed it. But Eddie Murray didn't. I don't know the story, and would love to know if he intentionally wouldn't sign it, or what. I wouldn't be surprised.

  • scooter729scooter729 Posts: 1,730 ✭✭✭
    Also on my list of a-holes is George Bell. After a game one time at Fenway around 1988, I was one of only two people lingering outside the park for autographs (about 2 hours after the game). Bell, Jesse Barfield and Ellis Burks came strolling out together. Burks signed, Barfield signed and chatted with me, but Bell wouldn't sign. The other person waiting for autographs, a Spanish man, asked Bell in Spanish for an autograph. He signed, even saying something in Spanish to the other man, causing both to laugh. And then Bell, Burks and Barfield all slowly walked down the street to a waiting car, and Bell still wouldn't sign. Many others backed up that this was Bell's typical personality - what a jerk.
  • Thanks for the info on Murray. He's not a hard Certified guy to get, but seemingly impossible to get on your own time with your own item.

    I've had nothing but positive stories at the ballpark, including recent run-ins with Scott Kazmir, Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, David Wright, Harold Baines, Barry Zito and others. You won't always get an autograph at the park, but it's certainally fun to get there when the gates open up and try.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Mike Marshall is one of the toughest autographs out there, bar none. As for McLaughlin, I'll see if i can get a certain member of the boards to tell the story, since he has one of his autographed cards. >>



    Mike Marshall has since done at least one private signing - in which case the matter became less of his not signing and more of a monetary issue.
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    My only personal experience with Eddie Murray was in the early 1980s. I was pretty much alone above the dugout during batting practice (this is back when the A's were drawing 3000 a game) and he signed for me no problem. I had some friends who were younger and got into the autograph hound thing in the 1990s and their experience with Eddie was mostly positive, he seems to be OK with signing unless there is a big crowd.

    To his credit he ALWAYS gives a very nice, legible signature. I have NEVER seen a Murray "rush job" autograph.

    I think Jorge Bell was bipolar or something because he would be great one trip into Oakland and then a jerk the next.

    Better check my closet. I'm pretty sure I've got a Duke Maas signed card somewhere!
  • downtowndowntown Posts: 671 ✭✭✭
    In 1987 or 1988 was at Phillies Spring Training in Clearwater. While most if not all the players left through gate by clubhouse to get to their transportation...signing autographs along the way, Von Hayes ran across the practice field and jumped the centerfield fence to where his car wasparked to avoid the fans. I was even able to get Mike Schmidt then. Lance Parrish stopped and sat chatting with fans and signing for about an hour.
    I collect Seattle Pilots autographs, 1969 Topps autographs, Signed Mickey Mantle Home Run History cards and have a JC Martin collection (he was my college Baseball coach)
    Doug
  • NickMNickM Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭
    I was turned down by Eddie Murray at the ballpark when there were no other collectors around (inside Dodger Stadium after a game). Rod Carew was the same way (at Anaheim Stadium). Carew not only doesn't sign through the mail, he gives any item of value you send to friends of his.

    Of the other toughies people mentioned, I got Von Hayes a couple times. He never struck me as particularly tough. Amos Otis also had a very bad reputation, but by the end of hs career (with the Pirates), he was a very willing signer and stopped to talk baseball with fans. Willie Wilson and George Hendrick were probably the 2 toughest name players of the 1980s. They now can be found on certified cards though.

    Bo Diaz was often unwilling to sign, and his early death leaves him on many want lists.

    I was fortunate enough to pick a signed '87 Donruss Gus Polidor out of an dealer's box of dollar autographs a few months after Polidor's death (the dealer put no-name players in there, and apparently had no idea).

    Nick
    image
    Reap the whirlwind.

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  • GDM67GDM67 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭✭
    Interestingly, the only card I ever had signed in the mail when I was in my first blush of serious collecting in the early 80's was an '81 Donruss Amos Otis.

    My percertion of Marshall has always been that he's a bit like Bill Russell: he just doesn't see the allure and he can't seem to just give someone else the benefit of the doubt and indulge them a bit.


  • << <i>I was a big time autograph hound from about 1973-1982, then sporadically after that. John Denny was a Grade A a**hole when it came to autographs, just a real nasty guy all around.

    Some other toughies I remember from that era:

    Mike Marshall (ex-Dodger/Expos pitcher) but he was nice, if a bit preachy about it
    Kirk Gibson (actually spat in my direction)
    Ron Reed (Braves pitcher)
    George Hendrick
    Jerry Grote
    Von Hayes

    Interesting that none of these guys save for Gibson had reason to be so uptight. >>



    I think Von Hayes done pimped out. He is a good signer through the mail.

    Pimp On....
    Nothing smoother than listening to Bob James and sipping on a glass of vintage Courvoisier! It's PIMPnificent!
    image
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    Willie Wilson was another toughie in Oakland...forgot about him. Thought of another guy who was a bit of a jerk, at least when it came to signing cards, was Chris Sabo.

    Glad to hear Von Hayes changed his tune. From what I understand some players mellow out after their careers are over. Dave Winfield was always tough when he was a Yankee, but I saw him a couple years ago at Spring Training in the stands and he was signing for people even as the game was going on, shaking hands, etc.

    Carew was always nice as a player when I had encounters with him, but I think I remember hearing he had some bad experiences with either card show promoters or people hounding him when his daughter was dying of leukemia and that may have turned him off.

    There were also guys with strange quirks.

    Anyone remember Roger McDowell...he'd sign your card and then bend the corner. I guess that's how you can tell they are good! Kelly Gruber was super nice but refused to sign the 1990 Leaf card. He apparently gave one to his kid signed and vowed it would be the only one he would ever sign.
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