Best player with no cards during playing days?

Interesting question. I can’t imagine there are too many baseball players during the Topps era who were “good” and yet never had a card. Somebody like Dave Schneck of the Mets was on and off the team from 1972-1974 and never had a card. But in those days a solid year of major league service was usually enough to gain inclusion in the next year’s set.

Just found this little tidbit from a 1985 interview with Sy Berger:

“Much of Sy Berger's life has been spent in baseball clubhouses, a briefcase in one hand, a pen in the other. He goes there to obtain a signed contract that would allow a player's picture to be put on a bubble-gum card. In the beginning, each player received $50 a season. Now the fee is $250, plus royalties that earn a player more than $2,000 a year.

''Only one player ever turned me down,'' he says. ''Tony Horton, a first baseman with the Red Sox and the Indians about 20 years ago. His father and grandfather advised him not to sign.''

Agree Josh Gibson

Many negro leaguers also played in Cuba - that's where many of the contemporary cards were produced. Many negro leaguers. Including HOFers, have contemporary cards - still several [hall of famers] do not. It's really hit or miss. Had Satchel Paige not made it to the majors, he also would have been skipped. It also matters what you include in the definition of "card" as many were featured on postcards.

@PaulMaul said:
Tony Horton played for six or seven years without ever having a Topps card, but he had a Kelloggs card in 1971. I’m not sure if there’s a reason he never had a Topps card, because he certainly played regularly and well enough from 1964-1970 to deserve one. He had 27 homers and 93 RBI for the Indians in 1969 and still didn’t have a Topps 1970 card.

He’s got several food issues including Kahn’s and nabisco:

In the Topps era, Marshall Bridges and Jim Duckworth are the two pitchers with the most innings without a card from any manufacturer. Dave Schneck and Loren Babe are top two batter with the most at bats without a card from any manufacturer.

If the list pre-dated 1900, Jake Stenzel has never had a card (though he did have a button) even though he had a lifetime Batting Average of .338 over 3031 At Bats in his career.

Musial does have a card in 1947 and Bowman and Leaf in 1948
Those Cubans are ridiculously hard to find. Very Nice collection you have.

Reg Carolan (AFL champion and Super Bowl I participant) only card during his playing career - insert and shared by three other players.

Bill Barilko didn't have a regular card issued of him during playing days besides just the "Winning Goal" card

(I don't count the 1949 World Wide Gum wrappers)

He's certainly not the "Best player with no cards during playing days" but he still does come to mind as far as lacking a base card from a set.

Frank Sinkwich

• 1942 Heisman Trophy winner, #1 pick 1943 draft by Detroit Lions
• 1944 NFL MVP (beat out Don Hutson for first place)
• 1945 military service and played military football (injured)
• played AAFC 1946-47 Yankees and Colts

first card 1955 Topps All American

If the payout is $2k today for signing a contract to be on a card, I'm surprised that's enough to entice players earning millions a year to bother with it.

Don Macek was the Chargers center from 1976-1989. He played in 162 career games and never had a Topps card - only a few regional police issues.