Jots from Jeff

Image by hartcurt via Flickr

The election of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. into the baseball Hall of Fame comes as a surprise to no one. The percentage of votes that each received came within a whisker of Tom Seaver’s all-time record. Their five year wait to be inducted will finally be culminated in late July in Cooperstown.

The annual rite of induction also begs the inevitable question about the values of their memorabilia in addition to the impact on their lives. Suffice it to say that the busy schedules of Gwynn and Ripken have just become even busier.

Certainly the minimal free time that they once had will shrink. In Gwynn’s case, he is the coach of the San Diego State University baseball team, his alma mater. Likewise with Ripken, who goes around the country promoting youth baseball. There are no indications that either of them will stop doing exactly what they love doing. (more…)

Image via Wikipedia

Every six months or so an auction will feature a T206 Honus Wagner card. Most collectors, and even non-collectors for that matter, are familiar with the “Holy Grail” of sports cards, the T206 Honus Wagner card with a tiny portrait with the allure of Mona Lisa to collectors. That one card which has a width of only 1 7/16 inches and a height of 2 5/8 inches has been the hope and dream of many collectors, the pinnacle of a baseball fan’s collecting journey, and to some, the means to luxury. But through the years the Wagner card has been the subject of a great deal of controversy.

Retracing history, Honus Wagner was an all-star shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is regarded by many as being the premier player in the Major Leagues prior to the 1920s. Indeed, his crowning achievement came in 1936 when the Baseball Writers Association of America selected him, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Babe Ruth for the Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural induction. From 1909 to 1911 the American Tobacco Company issued the T206 (the T was for tobacco) set of cards on two major brands of cigarette boxes, Piedmont and Sweet Caporal. It is estimated that only 35-50 authentic Wagner cards exist today. There are two prevailing reasons for the scarcity of the card. The first theory is that Wagner requested that the production of his card be stopped because he did not want children to be influenced into buying tobacco products to get his card. The other theory is the tobacco company did not pay him for the use of his image, and Wagner requested that they stop production. When production was stopped it was estimated that a maximum of 200 cards had already been produced. (more…)

Image via Wikipedia

As Major League Baseball eclipses the All-Star break, the symbolic halfway point in its marathon campaign, the Hall of Fame ceremonies on July 27th are not far away. This year the “Cooperstown Invitational” will only induct one player, Rich “Goose” Gossage. Unless you are part of the Gossage family, not much excitement will be stirred up on the shores of Lake Ostego. In his illustrious 22-year major league career Gossage wore nine different uniforms, and he was with one team, the Yankees, twice.

A year ago two superstars – Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. – were inducted into the Hall of Fame and baseball immortality. Since 1936, when Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner were first elected, only 228 players have been enshrined, with Gossage slotting number 229. But let’s face it: The luster of the Hall is tarnished because an all-star cast of characters probably will never have a place and a plaque. We have Messrs. Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Palmeiro, Sosa, and, of course, the all-time hit leader, Pete Rose.  (more…)