It seems like more energy was spent debating whether Bonds or Clemens should have been inducted in their final year on the ballot, but when the dust had settled, David Ortiz will become the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Congrats to Big Papi. I don’t think he signs through the mail, but maybe I’ll have to make an attempt.
Six candidates earned election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday via the Eras Committee process, it was announced today on MLB Network.
Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva were elected by the Golden Days Era Committee, which considered a 10-person ballot comprised of candidates whose primary contribution to the game came from 1950-69.
Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil were elected by the Early Baseball Era Committee, which considered a 10-person ballot of candidates whose primary contribution to the game came prior to 1950.
Unsurprisingly, it appears that autographs from these former players have all increased in value in the few days since this announcement.
I recently got something that I haven't received in quite some time - a through the mail autograph return! This one was from Canadian ballplayer, and the first Hall of Famer to be enshrined as a member of the Colorado Rockies, Larry Walker. He is the fifth former Montreal Expo in my collection, of only 9 players who wore that particular uniform.
This one took a year and a half to arrive, and rather than signing the index card I always send out, Mr. Walker sent a signed baseball card. I guess that's fine - even though I prefer the look of the signed index cards - it sure is nice to get a return in the mail!
I recently purchased a few more index card autographs from an eBay seller.
The third, Tim Raines, was inducted into the Hall of Fame just a few years ago in 2017. I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to get his signature through the mail. The price on this signed index card was too good to pass up even though he's still living (and occasionally signing through the mail).
This is a fun one for me, as someone who grew up in Canada, to add one of the very few HOFers who played for the Montreal Expos to my collection. I think I now have four of the nine in my collection.
I recently purchased a few more index card autographs from an eBay seller.
The second is Robin Roberts. This is a unique one in that the original autograph seeker added a cut out Phillies hat and wordmark. This makes it look a bit different than the rest of my collection, but it still counts! Roberts signed through the mail for many years, however he passed away in 2010, just before I really started collecting in earnest. I'm glad to add this one to my collection.
I recently purchased a few more index card autographs from an eBay seller.
The first, Ralph Kiner, was a player and broadcaster for many years. Unfortunately this one is personalized "to Bill", but it's still a nice clean signature on an index card. It also feels nice to finally get this one in my collection. Kiner was a HOFer who would sign through the mail for many years, however my attempts were not successful, and then he passed away in 2014.
