The Baseball HOF Registry Thread

scotgreb · January 30, 2010 8:01AM

I've been working on the Baseball HOF Complete Set for a while (#20 at 65%) and it seems to have a pretty strong following. I thought I would start this thread to share my pursuit of the set and welcome others to do the same. The concept of the set is pretty obvious; however, there are derivatives of HOF sets. I'm working on the "Complete" set which includes managers, executives, umpires, and pioneers -- as well as players. The registry allows any card of the HOFer as long as it was produced during his "playing" or "active" years. The downside is that there is not a card for everyone. Currently there are 292 HOF members (including the 2010 class) -- the registry composite has 249 slots. This set is great way to capture the history of baseball as well the history of trading cards.

Following is a recent pickup -- it's my favorite Walter Johnson card.

WinPitcher · January 30, 2010 2:49PM

Nice card Scotgreb. Good luck on your quest.

Steve

divecchia · January 30, 2010 4:52PM

Here's the Ty Cobb from my HOF set...

Edited to add: Nice pickup on the Johnson...

Donato

scotgreb · February 4, 2010 6:13AM

Another recent pickup . . .

There are not a whole lot of "playing year" cards of Satchell -- this is his only Topps issue -- and a classic in my opinion.

As you can probably tell, I'm generally looking for "collector" grade cards -- and this fits perfectly with my collection.

scotgreb · February 4, 2010 6:24AM

Here's the Ty Cobb from my HOF set...

Donato -- that's a super nice 4 (looks more like a 6) or at least a 4.5

Great job on your set

MBMiller25 · February 4, 2010 8:12AM

Donato, That Cobb you have is just spectacular. Congrats

BPorter26 · February 4, 2010 9:11AM

Scott, That's a nice look Satchell Paige 4.

Donato that Cobb is outstanding for a 4. It looks a lot better then a 4.

paleocards · February 6, 2010 11:26AM

Great thread scotgreb, I've been thinking about starting a similar one myself for months. I collect the "HOF Players" set, not the much tougher "Complete" set that you are attempting. The "Players" set is easier not only because it doesn't require managers and executives but especially because the cards do not have to be from their playing days. Since I primarily collect Topps HOFers from 1955-1975, I've tried to add the pre-War and 19th century HOFers from sets from the same time-frame, namely 1950 Callahan HOF, 1961 Golden Press, 1960 and 1961 Fleer. For me, it's more doable and affordable and I can collect in high-grade. Nevertheless there are challenges, primarily the Negro League players and the pre-war players with rare or no post-war cards.

There are 233 cards required and I currently have 173 representatives (74.25% complete) which puts me in 14th place out of 152 active sets. Right in front of me is Fogel and two slots up is 707 -- watch out Marshall and Levi, I'm gunning for you! Here's a link to my set. And here are some scans of my favorite cards in the set...

vbellier · February 6, 2010 12:14PM

Beautiful Drysdale, Gibson and Gossage RC's. Top end for the grades.

scotgreb · February 7, 2010 10:09PM

Andy (paleocards) -- that's a great set you're building -- and some beautiful cards you've posted (and a great scanner

)

I took the "collector-grade" route so I could maximize the quantity of cards -- and try not to get caught up in my set rating. Like you, I'm "competing" with some legendary collectors like Levi and DES -- so I'll never have the best set. In fact, I don't even register my highest graded card in this set -- I register my favorite. For example, I have several high-grade Clemente but my PSA 4 rookie fills the spot in my HOF registry.

Good luck and please continue to share your pursuit in this thread.

Scott

Edited: to add Clemente scan

divecchia · February 8, 2010 2:32AM

Guys, thanks for all the nice comments on the Cobb. The reason it doesn't grade higher is there is a small surface crease/bend above his head that is hard to see unless you tilt the card.

Scotgreb, love the Paige. That is my fav of all of Satchel's cards...

Paleocards the 1949 Bowman Early Wynn is off the charts...The image on it is so clear with great registration...

Great cards all around...Donato

divecchia · February 8, 2010 2:42AM

Here is another of the original inductees into the HOF...

Honus Wagner played 1897-1949 and was inducted in 1936...Donato

DerekD · February 8, 2010 6:41AM

<< <i>Here is another of the original inductees into the HOF...

Honus Wagner played 1897-1949 and was inducted in 1936...Donato >>

Wagner played from 1897-1917 and coached from 1933-1951. PSA put 1949 for both Wagner and Ruth so you could use their 49 Leaf cards in this set. I assume for affordability and maybe popularity of those cards??? Doesn't make too much sense making special rules just for them.

divecchia · February 8, 2010 10:15AM

<< <i>

<< <i>Here is another of the original inductees into the HOF...

Honus Wagner played 1897-1949 and was inducted in 1936...Donato >>

Wagner played from 1897-1917 and coached from 1933-1951. PSA put 1949 for both Wagner and Ruth so you could use their 49 Leaf cards in this set. I assume for affordability and maybe popularity of those cards??? Doesn't make too much sense making special rules just for them. >>

DerekD...

I stand corrected...

You have a good point. I never really understood that either. There are a few 19th century players that PSA did the same thing for as they did not play until 1912, but many are listed as being able to use cards up until that date. That allows you to get some of the T202, T205, T206 cards in there. Otherwise all you would have is mostly Old Judges, Allen & Ginters and Mayos and few others that are not easily affordable.

I think they may be allowing it for the affordability...Donato

paleocards · February 8, 2010 11:07PM

That's a gorgeous Clemente RC, especially for the grade -- thanks for adding it to the thread Scott. The Wagner stamp is very cool and unique, Donato, I've never seen anything like it. Keep 'em coming guys, I hope this thread is in it for the long haul!

divecchia · February 9, 2010 3:01AM

paleocards...

Took a look at your set and noticed you have a really nice Nolan Ryan rookie...

Here's Babe Ruth also one of the original inductees...Donato

bxb · February 10, 2010 6:35AM

Nice thread, I've been working on this set too (Capecards).

Great fun looking at everybody's cards.

Here is my latest addition:

divecchia · February 11, 2010 2:39AM

Nice Lajoie...

Love the colors on it and it is nicely centered T206...Makes a great addition to the set.

Here is another inductee from 1936, Christie Mathewson...

Donato

paleocards · February 12, 2010 10:38AM

Great Mathewson triple-folder, Donato, it looks so much better than a 5. Great to see Larry (Capecards) join in on the thread with his T206 Lajoie; if you haven't already, you need to check out his registry sets -- they're amazing.

Here's my latest. This is the kind of purchase I love, not only because it's a killer card, but because it improves all four of the main sets I'm working on: Seaver RC for the Post-48 HOFer RC set, highest graded Seaver I own (upgrade from my '68 Topps PSA 8) for the HOF Players set, highest-graded 1967 Topps card I own for the Ultimate PSA Vintage Sampler (registry type set), and one of Mike Payne's 300 Great Baseball Cards. Enjoy!

fandango · February 12, 2010 8:41PM

Cool Set to work on...not cheap though....

Scot, i was wondering why the T207 Johnson was your favorite? was it due to scarcity? because i think the T206 Portrait has WAY MORE APPEAL, both visually and historically..

heres one of mine (sovereign back)

scotgreb · February 12, 2010 11:13PM

Fandango -- you're right . . . the T206 is a beautiful card. Part of it is simply personal preference -- there's just something about the T207 that appeals to me.

It also appeals to me in the context of building this set. I try to diversify my HOF collection among many different sets. I don't have the numbers in front of me but I think there are only about a dozen HOFers in the T207 set and about 40 in the T206 set -- with all the T206 variations, the disparity is even greater. From that perspective, the T207 Johnson serves a dual purpose -- and I really like the card.

mrpeanut39 · February 13, 2010 10:48AM

<< <i>Great Mathewson triple-folder, Donato, it looks so much better than a 5. Great to see Larry (Capecards) join in on the thread with his T206 Lajoie; if you haven't already, you need to check out his registry sets -- they're amazing.

Here's my latest. This is the kind of purchase I love, not only because it's a killer card, but because it improves all four of the main sets I'm working on: Seaver RC for the Post-48 HOFer RC set, highest graded Seaver I own (upgrade from my '68 Topps PSA 8) for the HOF Players set, highest-graded 1967 Topps card I own for the Ultimate PSA Vintage Sampler (registry type set), and one of Mike Payne's 300 Great Baseball Cards. Enjoy!

>>

I like it. This is one of the first cards graded in the .5 era. If you'll notice it has the numeric grade and the written grade on the same line, as opposed to the numeric grade on the line below.

divecchia · February 13, 2010 1:58PM

Great looking Seaver rookie...

Just like Scot, I too like diversity in my HOF set. I'm trying to get as many different card types as possible.

This is my favorite Johnson from the T206 set...Donato

scotgreb · February 15, 2010 10:40AM

Donato -- great looking Mathewson -- the same classic image as the T205 -- below is one in my HOF set;

divecchia · February 15, 2010 1:15PM

Scott...I love the T205 Matty and as you said it is a classic...

It has GREAT eye appeal for the grade...Donato

divecchia · February 19, 2010 2:20AM

I thought I would show the next inductee in order as they appear on the PSA HOF Registry.

Inducted in 1937 NAP LAJOIE...

Here is a common card of Lajoie from my HOF set. Please feel free to share some rarer Lajoie's or some of your favorites..

Donato

scotgreb · February 19, 2010 9:01AM

Most of my T-cards are what I would describe as "presentable" PSA 1s -- including my Lajoie (although the back of this one is pretty rough).

DerekD · February 19, 2010 8:54PM

Here is my Nap that I recently upgraded to...

divecchia · February 20, 2010 3:05AM

Scott...

Nice looking T206 of Nap...

DerekD...

Very nice looking T201 of Lajoie...

I don't have a T201 in my collection yet, but plan on picking one up...

Donato

paleocards · February 22, 2010 8:56AM

Here are the latest to be added to my set, very difficult to find any cards of Negro Leaguers who never played in the Major Leagues (especially if you can't afford the Cuban and Venezuelan issues!) If anyone has any Laughlin HOFers they're willing to sell, please let me know.

divecchia · February 24, 2010 5:00PM

paleocards...Nice Laughlin's of the Negro League greats...

Contemporary Negro League cards are definitely hard to find.

Next inductee, Tris Speaker was called to the Hall in 1937.

Here is a T206 Polar Bear back. Show some of you favorites...

Donato

Griffins · February 24, 2010 11:25PM

Here's a few to add...

paleocards · February 28, 2010 12:56PM

Very cool cards Anthony, thanks for adding to this thread...

brumbach · March 2, 2010 12:41PM

divecchia · March 2, 2010 4:13PM

Anthony and Bill, some great looking cards. Really love the Rice-Stix Dizzy Dean and the Oxford Confectionary Cobb...

Donato

divecchia · March 4, 2010 2:38AM

Here's another of my favorite T206's with a Tolstoi back...

Donato

scotgreb · March 5, 2010 8:52AM

Just upgraded my Perez -- I often prefer the 2nd year (when it's the first solo) card as part of my HOF collection -- I especially like the All-Star Rookie trophy cards.

divecchia · March 5, 2010 4:50PM

Scott, that Perez is a beauty. Looks like it could easily pass for a PSA 7.

Nice pickup...

Donato

GDM67 · March 5, 2010 5:16PM

So true. Perez, Bench, Rose, Morgan, Seaver, Carew...so many guys with great 2nd year cards and rookie team trophies.

He doesn't have a trophy but I also really love Ferguson Jenkins' '67 solo rookie.

brumbach · March 6, 2010 4:44AM

Great cards everyone! And I agree, rookie cards are nice but in many instances my favorite card of player is not the RC. My favorite Marichal is the '74 with the leg kick:

scotgreb · March 6, 2010 5:49AM

Brumbach -- funny you should mention that card -- I've been looking for a nicely centered 8/9 to replace the '61 rookie in my set.

It is also my favorite Marichal.

Scott

DerekD · March 6, 2010 10:28PM

Here is my newest. I'm VERY happy with this one.

divecchia · March 7, 2010 3:36AM

Have always loved the '74 Topps card showing off the high kicking Marichal.

DerekD, that's a nice looking 4 in 1 Goudey with the Babe. Hope to get one of those in my HOF set at some point.

Thanks for sharing some great cards...Donato

divecchia · March 14, 2010 4:19AM

I don't know how other collectors feel, but I try to make my HOF set as diverse as possible, by having all types of items for my set, not only cards. I figured I would post something different for the HOF thread.

Here are some pins that are in my set...Donato

CW · March 14, 2010 8:55AM

Nice Babe, Derek! I can see why you're happy -- good shape for a 4.5

Killer pins, too, Donato.

The Jimmy Foxx looks very cool. Never seen that one before.....

divecchia · March 18, 2010 3:24AM

Thanks for the kind words CW, the Jimmy for is one of my favorites also.

Anyone have other pins they'd like to share...Donato

brumbach · March 20, 2010 12:29PM

Nice pins Donato, I don't have any myself.

My latest pickup:

paleocards · March 21, 2010 9:31AM

Since I can't afford high-grade pre-War and 19th century HOFers, I try to fill in those holes in my set with semi-vintage cards like those below. I just found a batch of these 1976 Shakey's Pizza HOF online and I'll be submitting them on this month's special. I think they should grade pretty high, what do you think? I was able to buy one graded, the Youngs PSA 8 happens to be a Pop 1 with none higher!

divecchia · March 21, 2010 5:26PM

Bill, love your HOF auto's. Congrats on the pickup...

paleocards...Nice pickup on the Shakey's Pizza HOFer's, that is a terrific way to pick up the more unattainable cards of the older players. I think the cards should grade out fairly nice as they are all well centered and they have sharp corners and crisp edges. Good luck if you decide to get them graded.

Here's my latest pickup...

Donato

bxb · March 22, 2010 10:49AM

I like the photos on the Shakey's pizza cards. Nice to have a few of those in your set for a little variety.

Who is adding all the tough negro leaguers to the HOF players set - i can't find any card of Sol White - who the heck is sol white.

Still looking for my first tatoo orbit card also-

scotgreb · March 24, 2010 3:34AM

Thanks to all for keeping this thread going -- it's very interesting for me and hopefully to many others.

Lots of great new scans from Donato, Brumbach, DerekD, etc.

Paleocards - I like your approach with the Shakey's, particularly with the Negro leaguers -- many only have a couple very rare examples or no known playing year cards. I'm considering something similar with the holes in my collection.

Below is the class of 2010 . . .

The Baseball HOF Registry Thread

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