Thirty-one players enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum have now signed insert labels for PCGS-certified 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coins. The $5 gold coins, silver dollars, and clad half dollars featuring an innovative curved shape were released by the United States Mint earlier this year. The gold coins and silver dollars quickly sold out of their maximum mintages, while the clad half dollars still remain available for sale.
“The Hall of Fame coins have been extremely popular with both coin and sports memorabilia collectors. Combining PCGS certification of the coins with authentic signatures of Hall of Fame players’ autographs on the inserts is a great way to enjoy both hobbies. So, we’ve been adding more former stars of the game to the autograph line up,” said “Miles” Michael Standish, PCGS Vice President.
An example of a Hank Aaron autographed insert on a PCGS-certified 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative silver dollar.
Standish attended the 75th anniversary Hall of Fame induction ceremonies weekend in Cooperstown, New York, July 25 – 28, 2014. Three of this year’s inductees are now among the players who have signed PCGS inserts. All the autographs are signed in the presence of a PCGS representative.
Baseball Hall of Fame 2008 inductee Rich “Goose” Gossage signed autographs for PCGS during the 2014 HOF weekend at Cooperstown, New York.
The Hall of Fame players participating in the PCGS “autographed coin” program are:
- Hank Aaron
- Johnny Bench
- Jim Bunning
- Lou Brock
- Rod Carew
- Steve Carlton
- Orlando Cepeda
- Andre Dawson
- Dennis Eckersley
- Carlton Fisk
- Bob Gibson
- Tom Glavine
- Rich “Goose” Gossage
- Rickey Henderson
- Reggie Jackson
- Al Kaline
- Tony LaRussa
- Tommy Lasorda
- Paul Molitor
- Joe Morgan
- Phil Niekro
- Jim Palmer
- Tony Pérez
- Gaylord Perry
- Jim Rice
- Cal Ripken Jr.
- Brooks Robinson
- Nolan Ryan
- Ozzie Smith
- Bruce Sutter
- Frank Thomas
- Dave Winfield
- Robin Yount
Other former major league players who also have signed PCGS insert labels are: Bill Buckner, Doc Gooden, Pedro Martinez, Minnie Minoso, Dale Murphy, Tony Oliva, Jimmy Piersall, Pete Rose, Lee Smith, Darryl Strawberry and Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams.
Additional insert labels include the autographs of Olympic softball gold medal winner Jenny Finch and artist Cassie McFarland who designed the curved baseball glove obverse of the Hall of Fame coins.
The Baseball Hall of Fame signatures program is the latest in a series of “autographed coin” projects from PCGS since 1999. Previous insert autographs have included former U.S. Presidents Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush as well as former U.S. Mint Directors Jay Johnson, Edmund Moy, Donna Pope, Jay Johnson and Chief Engraver John Mercanti.
Since its founding in 1986, Professional Coin Grading Service has authenticated, graded and certified over 29 million coins with a combined value of $29 billion. For additional information, visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.
IMO – the TPG Co.’s have created too many “special” labels.