Presented here is a large group of 3x5 index cards signed by 42 different modern Hall of Famers. By modern, we mean careers as a player or manager that mostly began post-1970 and/or lasted until the end of the millennium.
Alphabetically, the list is George "Sparky" Anderson, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio (card, 10/10 blue marker), Wade Boggs, Bert Blyleven, George Brett, Gary Carter (9/10 red marker), Bobby Cox (red), Andre Dawson (red), Tom Glavine, Tony Gwynn, Rickey Henderson, Whitey Herzog, Trevor Hoffman (card, "Dennis All the Best" in 10/10 black marker), Randy Johnson (card), Chipper Jones (card, 10/10 black marker), Barry Larkin, Tony LaRussa, Tommy LaSorda ("Best Wishes"), Greg Maddux (card, 8/10 black marker), Pedro Martinez (card, 9/10 black marker), Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Eddie Murray, Mike Piazza (card, 6/10 blue marker), Kirby Puckett (8-9/10 black ballpoint), Tim Raines, Jim Rice, Cal Ripken Jr. (7-8/10 black ink), Ivan Rodriguez (card, 10/10 blue marker), Ryne Sandberg (black ballpoint), Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith (9/10 brown marker), John Smoltz, Bruce Sutter, Frank Thomas (card, 10/10 blue marker), Jim Thome (black marker), Alan Trammell, Dick Williams, Earl Weaver, Dave Winfield (8/10 brown marker) and Robin Yount.
Most come in blue ballpoint (unless specified) ranging predominantly 8-9/10 in strength and eye appeal. Some are inscribed as noted and a few include images from newspaper clippings. Each player's DOB and MLB debut season are printed at the top of his index card by the meticulous collector, a former minor leaguer named Dave Hill. All of these autographs have been pre-certified by PSA/DNA.
Provenance: How does one acquire over 9,000
autographs, covering just about every Major Leaguer from 1900 to 2000?
Very diligently with an unbelievable amount of patience and
determination. For Dave Hill, the quest lasted practically his entire
life. Born in St. Louis in 1929, Hill was a standout pitcher who played
in college and then a few years professionally in the White Sox
organization before landing a position with the Central Intelligence
Agency where he had a long and decorated career. The management and
organization skills Hill developed at the CIA certainly came in handy as
he meticulously built his massive memorabilia collection.
Hill grew up a die-hard St. Louis Browns fan and always had a passion
for collecting. It became as much a hobby as an obsession as he tracked
down player after player by attending games or events where one was
present, writing them letters with his request, or purchasing from other
collectors (some autographs were dated before Hill was even born). The
relentless man did not stop until well into his 60’s. Most signatures
come on 3x5 index cards or cuts, and many are done on the player’s
baseball card, photo, news clipping or mailed postcard/GPC. The list is
mind-blowing, some signatures so rare that records of their mere
existence are blank. As a hobbyist, Hill was also recognized for his
extensive collection of St. Louis Brown photographs used to produce two
official “Brownies” albums by team archivists.
The Dave Hill Collection is easily one of the largest autograph
collections ever documented. Its size and scope is beyond anything we’ve
had the pleasure of representing. Luckily, Hill was meticulous about
keeping it organized in alphabetical order and, according to the family,
his wife Jewell deserves much of the credit. Even the years of each
player’s birth [& death] and MLB debut are noted. A total of 186 Hall of Famers
are included (out of a possible 323) and the most significant autographs
have been encapsulated by PSA/DNA, branded “Dave Hill Collection.”
David W. Hill passed away in 1995 at the age of 66.