OK, Negro League Experts - I've got something for ya!

frankhardy · December 13, 2006 1:53PM

Oh, my gosh! I just found a HOF Negro League autographed 3 x 5 card. Let me explain. About a week ago, I bought a collection of baseball cards and memorabilia from a local man. He had an autograph book of a lot of older players including Brooks Robinson, Gil McDougald, Darrell Porter, just to name a few.

There were some that I could not read, and there were some that I did not recognize the name. That is the case with this one - I did not recognize the name - until tonight!

I was (clearing throat) taking a little down time to do some reading (clearing throat) and was looking through a recent Memory Lane, Inc Auction catalog. I was looking through the autographs and canceled checks section - THERE IT WAS!

His name was William "Judy" Johnson.

The 3 x 5 card says -

Best Wishes
Judy Johnson

Any idea what this might be worth? The min bid on the canceled check was $200. He died in 1989.

Knuckles - I might could use you on this. I will probably send this to PSA/DNA.

Scan is coming tomorrow. It's to late to scan right now. I'm going to bed (if I can sleep!)

frankhardy · December 13, 2006 2:05PM

Holy crap! I just found another HOF'er - A 3 x 5 card of HOF'er Freddie Lindstrom. He played in the 1920's for the NY Giants and was inducted into the HOF in 1976!

Scans coming tomorrow.

frankhardy · December 13, 2006 2:09PM

I promise that I am not making this up - I just found another HOF 3 x 5 auto. Bob Lemon.

frankhardy · December 13, 2006 2:15PM

I promise I'm going to bed - but I just found another decent one - not a HOF'er, but a historical one nonetheless. A 3 x 5 card of Johnny Vandermeer. He is the only man in history to throw back to back no hitters.

airjoedan · December 13, 2006 7:17PM

Hey, great find! The Judy Johnson index card is probably worth around $15-$20, I've picked up several on eBay over the years for less than that. A great hall of famer that has been deceased for over a decade now. The Lindstrom is worth about the same price, while the Lemon is the most inexpensive, maxing out at $5-$10. These types of autographs are a big part of my hobby, hall of fame autographs are much cheaper on index cards and cuts than on baseballs and cards...but they still look great!! If there are any signatures you can't figure out, post them on here or email me a scan and I'll see if I can help you decipher them. Thanks again and great find!

- Joe

frankhardy · December 13, 2006 9:55PM

I wonder if it would be worth senging to PSA/DNA? If they are only worth $15-20, I would say no. Unless authenticating them would make them bring a little more.

MooseDog · December 14, 2006 12:15AM

Nice find, but none of those Hall of Famers is particularly hard to find or get. All of them signed prodigious amounts of stuff through the mail in their time.

airjoedan is about spot-on on the values and I would not spend the money to get them authenticated by PSA/DNA as you won't even get close to the cost of the fees on those if you try to sell them.

frankhardy · December 14, 2006 12:26AM

Thanks. I did some research on Ebay to verify. The reason I got excited is because in that catalog, the minimum bid on the canceled check was $200 and it said, "very rare" when more well known HOF'ers were $100 min bids. Maybe they meant the check and not the auto.

That's what I suspected about getting them authenticated. Oh well, I can just keep them for my collection then. Stille neat, though! Scans coming in a few hours.

rbdjr1 · December 14, 2006 1:01AM

Another idea is to buy autographed perez-steele post cards.There are Negro League players, like Cool Papa Bell, Ray Dandridge that can be bought, sometimes on ebay, already PSA/DNA slabbed, for less than the current PSA/DNA sub fees!

These Perez-Steele cards are just beautiful, and in my opinion represent a good value, in addition to the joy of adding these items to one's collection.

Here are a few recent scans of some Perez-Steele cards, including Negro League player, Ray Dandridge (known as Raymond "Hooks" Dandridge; known for his great "infield defense"). I do have more examples, like Cool Papa Bell, but these are "stashed away" for now. I'll try to pull them out and scan them for you all to enjoy!

If you have not seen Perez-Steel material, "up close and personal", I cannot begin to tell you just how beautiful they are. Add an original autograph of HOFer, Negro league player, and an assortment of "baseball's greatest players". umps, etc., and you have some immpressive items, that will offer you "many years of enjoyment", just re-discovering them, "from time to time", in your collection.

And the best part for now, they are quite affordable!

rd

P.S. Here are a few autographed & PSA slabbed Perez-Steele examples:

frankhardy · December 14, 2006 3:07AM

Wow! Impressive. Here are the scans of mine! (Way to blow mine away!)

Carew29 · December 14, 2006 7:12AM

WWE---"CARLOS SAYS, THAT IS COOL"!!

schr1st · December 14, 2006 8:28AM

While his real name is Carlos (Carlos Colon Jr.), his WWE name is Carlito. The autos are cool though, and from what I can tell look legit.

<< <i>WWE---"CARLOS SAYS, THAT IS COOL"!! >>

Stone193 · December 14, 2006 9:40AM

rd

Are the cards you posted yours?

Some sweet stuff - the Mantle is off the chart! Also, I've always liked Gehringer's sig.

mike

Stone193 · December 14, 2006 9:42AM

Frank

I think ya picked up some really nice stuff.

My take? If they look good in comparison to examples of psa/dna on ebay? It's good.

Knucks will do a great job on the cut signs!

Congratulations on a nice pickup lot - hope ya find a Ruth buried in there!

mike

frankhardy · December 14, 2006 9:43AM

<< <i>

My take? If they look good in comparison to examples of psa/dna on ebay? It's good. >>

I agree. I checked, and they look absolutely genuine.

rbdjr1 · December 14, 2006 10:33AM

opps! sorry!

MooseDog · December 14, 2006 10:40AM

Frank - thanks for posting the scans. Those are all good. Whether you want to pay PSA/DNA $20 or more for confirmation and slabbing is up to you... The Judy Johnson is definitely pre-stroke too.

OK, Negro League Experts - I've got something for ya!

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