METALLIC BASEBALL HALL OF FAME PLAQUES (1981-1989) - INTRODUCTION

I'd like to present a brief guide of the interesting Baseball Hall of Fame Metallic set of 1981-1989.  Apparently, the series was limited to only 1,000 metal plaques of each player.  There are reports that some plaques were damaged (in production/distribution) so that the actual number distributed may be less than 1,000.  The set includes all of the 204 players, executives, managers and umpires who were inducted into the Hall up to and including 1989.  The set was also issued with a special "faux-leather" embossed 3-Ring Binder (see picture below). 

I will try to be as factual as possible, however there are some areas of speculation - which I will try to identify as such.  If you have any additional information, or notice an error, please let me know using the e-bay message feature.  I would like to thank the Scott Johnson his invaluable help in compiling this information.  If you find this guide helpful, please indicate so below - it's my only reward for presenting this material to you.  Also I have other e-bay guides on Baseball HOF Postcards from Dexter, Artvue and Albertype and one on the Callahan HOF issue which you might find useful.

THE BASICS - METALLIC HOF PLAQUES

Produced for the Baseball Hall of Fame Gift Shop and offered for sale (as a set only I believe) between 1981 and 1989, this limited-edition set of metallic baseball cards reproduces the hall of fame plaques of the baseball stars enshrined at the Museum.  The plaques are depicted on blank-backed gold anodized aluminum (2.5 x 3.5 inches).  In addition to its availability at the Gift Shop, they appeared to be distributed in six different series produced in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 and finally in 1989.  The cards are not numbered - neither by its order in the set nor by serial number 1 - 1,000.  As mentioned, the backs are blank.  Despite the fact that these cards are metal, it is surprisingly difficult to obtain pristine samples.  This is because the corners are easy to ding, the surfaces are easy to scratch or smudge with fingerprints, and I have noticed that some seem to show some evidence of oxidation.  There are no variations in this set that I have been able to document.

This issue is not difficult to obtain, despite its small number of distribution (~1,000 sets).  Singles of the less popular players are quite common and relatively inexpensive.  There does not seem to be any players that are more difficult to obtain than any other - of course due to demand the prices range widely.  If you collect autograhped samples of this issue, then you will defintely run into some scarcities.  Please read below for more information on autographed Metallic HOF Plaques.

 The "Leather-Look" 3-Ring Binder sold to store the Metallic HOF Plaques

METALLIC HOF PLAQUE CHECKLIST

The complete set is comprised of 204 cards containing all players/managers/executives/umpires inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame from its inception to the year 1989 when the issue was apparently discontinued due to relative lack of interest.  There are no variations documented.

bold italicized (A) Indicates that a plaque autographed by the player is verified to exist (see list below).  The year indicates under which series the card was released (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 or 1989).

Aaron, Hank - 1983 Series (A)
Alexander, Pete - 1982 Series 
Alston, Walter - 1984 Series
Anson, Cap - 1981 Series 
Aparicio, Luis - 1984 Series (A)
Appling, Luke - 1982 Series (A)
Averill, Earl - 1983 Series
Baker, Home Run - 1983 Series
Bancroft, Dave - 1982 Series 
Banks, Ernie - 1982 Series (A)
Barlick, Al - 1989 Series (A)
Barrow, Ed - 1982 Series 
Beckley, Jake - 1982 Series 
Bell, Cool Papa - 1981 Series (A)
Bench, Johnny - 1989 Series (A)
Bender, Chief - 1982 Series 
Berra, Yogi - 1982 Series (A)
Bottomley, Jim - 1981 Series 
Boudreau, Lou - 1982 Series (A)
Bresnahan, Roger - 1982 Series 
Brock, Lou - 1986 Series (A)
Brouthers, Dan - 1982 Series 
Brown, Mordecai - 1981 Series 
Bulkeley, Morgan - 1981 Series 
Burkett, Jesse - 1982 Series 
Campanella, Roy - 1981 Series 
Carey, Max - 1982 Series 
Cartwright, Alexander - 1981 Series 
Chadwick, Henry - 1982 Series 
Chance, Frank - 1981 Series 
Chandler, Happy - 1983 Series (A)
Charleston, Oscar - 1982 Series 
Chesbro, Jack - 1982 Series 
Clarke, Fred - 1983 Series
Clarkson, John - 1982 Series 
Clemente, Roberto - 1982 Series 
Cobb, Ty - 1981 Series 
Cochrane, Mickey - 1983 Series
Collins, Eddie - 1981 Series 
Collins, Jimmy - 1982 Series 
Combs, Earle - 1983 Series
Comiskey, Charlie - 1982 Series 
Conlan, Jocko - 1981 Series (A)
Connolly, Tom - 1982 Series 
Connor, Roger - 1982 Series 
Coveleski, Stan - 1982 Series (A)
Crawford, Sam - 1983 Series
Cronin, Joe - 1981 Series 
Cummings, Candy - 1982 Series 
Cuyler, Kiki - 1983 Series
Dandridge, Ray - 1989 Series (A)
Dean, Dizzy - 1983 Series
Delahanty, Ed - 1981 Series 
Dickey, Bill - 1981 Series (A)
Dihigo, Martin - 1982 Series 
DiMaggio, Joe - 1983 Series (A)
Doerr, Bobby - 1986 Series (A)
Drysdale, Don - 1984 Series (A)
Duffy, Hugh - 1982 Series 
Evans, Billy - 1983 Series
Evers, Johnny - 1982 Series 
Ewing, Buck - 1981 Series 
Faber, Red - 1983 Series
Feller, Bob - 1981 Series (A)
Ferrell, Rick - 1984 Series (A)
Flick, Elmer - 1982 Series 
Ford, Whitey - 1983 Series (A)
Foster, Rube - 1983 Series
Foxx, Jimmie - 1982 Series 
Frick, Ford - 1981 Series 
Frisch, Frankie - 1981 Series 
Galvin, Pud - 1982 Series 
Gehrig, Lou - 1982 Series 
Gehringer, Charlie - 1983 Series (A)
Gibson, Bob - 1982 Series (A)
Gibson, Josh - 1981 Series 
Giles, Warren - 1983 Series
Gomez, Lefty - 1981 Series (A)
Goslin, Goose - 1982 Series 
Greenberg, Hank - 1981 Series (A)
Griffith, Clark - 1982 Series 
Grimes, Burleigh - 1982 Series (A)
Grove, Lefty - 1981 Series 
Hafey, Chick - 1982 Series 
Haines, Jesse - 1982 Series 
Hamilton, Billy - 1982 Series 
Harridge, Will - 1982 Series 
Harris, Bucky - 1982 Series 
Hartnett, Gabby - 1982 Series 
Heilmann, Harry - 1983 Series
Herman, Billy - 1982 Series (A)
Hooper, Harry - 1982 Series 
Hornsby, Rogers - 1981 Series 
Hoyt, Waite - 1983 Series (A)
Hubbard, Cal - 1982 Series 
Hubbell, Carl - 1981 Series (A)
Huggins, Miller - 1982 Series 
Hunter, Catfish - 1989 Series (A)
Irvin, Monte - 1981 Series (A)
Jackson, Travis - 1983 Series (A)
Jennings, Hugh - 1983 Series
Johnson, Ban - 1981 Series 
Johnson, Judy - 1981 Series (A)
Johnson, Walter - 1982 Series 
Joss, Addie - 1981 Series 
Kaline, Al - 1981 Series (A)
Keefe, Tim - 1983 Series
Keeler, Willie - 1982 Series 
Kell, George - 1984 Series (A)
Kelley, Joe - 1983 Series
Kelly, George - 1982 Series (A)
Kelly, King - 1981 Series 
Killebrew, Harmon - 1984 Series (A)
Kiner, Ralph - 1982 Series (A)
Klein, Chuck - 1983 Series
Klem, Bill - 1981 Series 
Koufax, Sandy - 1982 Series (A)
Lajoie, Nap - 1982 Series 
Landis, Kenesaw M. - 1981 Series 
Lemon, Bob - 1982 Series (A)
Leonard, Buck - 1981 Series (A)
Lindstrom, Fred - 1982 Series 
Lloyd, Pop - 1981 Series 
Lombardi, Ernie - 1986 Series
Lopez, Al - 1981 Series (A)
Lyons, Ted - 1983 Series (A)
Mack, Connie - 1981 Series 
MacPhail, Larry - 1983 Series
Mantle, Mickey - 1983 Series (A)
Manush, Heinie - 1981 Series 
Maranville, Rabbit - 1981 Series 
Marichal, Juan - 1984 Series (A)
Marquard, Rube - 1983 Series
Mathews, Eddie - 1983 Series (A)
Mathewson, Christy - 1981 Series 
Mays, Willie - 1981 Series (A)
McCarthy, Joe - 1983 Series
McCarthy, Tommy - 1983 Series
McCovey, Willie - 1986 Series (A)
McGinnity, Joe - 1982 Series 
McGraw, John - 1982 Series 
McKechnie, Bill - 1982 Series 
Medwick, Joe - 1983 Series
Mize, Johnny - 1982 Series (A)
Musial, Stan - 1981 Series (A)
Nichols, Kid - 1983 Series
O'Rourke, Jim - 1982 Series 
Ott, Mel - 1981 Series 
Paige, Satchel - 1981 Series 
Pennock, Herb - 1983 Series
Plank, Eddie - 1982 Series 
Radbourn, Charlie - 1983 Series
Reese, Pee Wee - 1984 Series (A)
Rice, Sam - 1983 Series
Rickey, Branch - 1981 Series 
Rixey, Eppa - 1983 Series
Roberts, Robin - 1982 Series (A)
Robinson, Brooks - 1984 Series (A)
Robinson, Frank - 1983 Series (A)
Robinson, Jackie - 1981 Series 
Robinson, Wilbert - 1982 Series 
Roush, Edd - 1982 Series (A)
Ruffing, Red - 1982 Series 
Rusie, Amos - 1983 Series
Ruth, Babe - 1981 Series 
Schalk, Ray - 1982 Series 
Schoendienst, Red - 1989 Series (A)
Sewell, Joe - 1982 Series (A)
Simmons, Al - 1982 Series 
Sisler, George - 1981 Series 
Slaughter, Enos - 1986 Series (A)
Snider, Duke - 1981 Series (A)
Spahn, Warren - 1982 Series (A)
Spalding, Al - 1982 Series 
Speaker, Tris - 1982 Series 
Stargell, Willie - 1989 Series (A)
Stengel, Casey - 1981 Series 
Terry, Bill - 1981 Series (A)
Thompson, Sam - 1983 Series
Tinker, Joe - 1982 Series 
Traynor, Pie - 1982 Series 
Vance, Dazzy - 1983 Series
Vaughan, Arky - 1986 Series
Waddell, Rube - 1983 Series
Wagner, Honus - 1982 Series 
Wallace, Bobby - 1982 Series 
Walsh, Ed - 1982 Series 
Waner, Lloyd - 1981 Series 
Waner, Paul - 1981 Series 
Ward, John - 1982 Series 
Weiss, George - 1983 Series
Welch, Mickey - 1983 Series
Wheat, Zack - 1982 Series 
Wilhelm, Hoyt - 1986 Series (A)
Williams, Billy - 1989 Series (A)
Williams, Ted - 1981 Series (A)
Wilson, Hack - 1982 Series 
Wright, George - 1982 Series 
Wright, Harry - 1983 Series
Wynn, Early - 1982 Series (A)
Yastrzemski, Carl - 1989 Series (A)
Yawkey, Tom - 1982 Series 
Young, Cy - 1981 Series 
Youngs, Ross - 1982 Series 

METALLIC HOF PLAQUES AUTOGRAPHED

  Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Lefty Gomez signed examples

There are at least 67 plaques that have been autographed by the player depicted - with maybe as many as 74 possible.  The 67 listed below have been verified to exist.  A recent authenticated lot of 61 different autographed metallic plaques (along with the remaining 143 unsigned & binder) sold for about $2K.  There are players - not verified - who died between the years 1981 and 1989 and MAY have signed the card (based on distribution etc.).  These players include:  Satchel Paige (Issued 1981 - Died June 1982), Lloyd Waner (Issued 1981 - Died July 1982), Earl Averill (Issued 1983, Died Aug. 1983), Joe Cronin (Issued 1981 - Died Sep. 1984), Walter Alston (Issued 1984 - Died Oct. 1984), Red Ruffing (Issued 1982 - Died Feb. 1986), (and also unverified is Roy Campenella - Died June 1993).  Again, NONE of these seven players' signature on a metallic card has been verified to date and signed examples of these players range from highly unlikely to impossible - depending upon how and exactly when these were distributed.  If you have any additional information, please contact me so that I can update this guide.  If you have a sample of any of these, please send along a scan.

Verifed Autographed Plaques Include:
Aaron, Hank
Aparicio, Luis
Appling, Luke
Banks, Ernie
Barlick, Al
Bell, Cool Papa
Bench, Johnny
Berra, Yogi
Boudreau, Lou
Brock, Lou
Chandler, Happy
Conlan, Jocko
Coveleski, Stan
Dandridge, Ray
Dickey, Bill
DiMaggio, Joe
Doerr, Bobby
Drysdale, Don
Feller, Bob
Ferrell, Rick
Ford, Whitey
Gehringer, Charlie
Gibson, Bob
Gomez, Lefty
Greenberg, Hank
Grimes, Burleigh
Herman, Billy
Hoyt, Waite
Hubbell, Carl
Hunter, Catfish
Irvin, Monte
Jackson, Travis
Johnson, Judy
Kaline, Al
Kell, George
Kelly, George
Killebrew, Harmon
Kiner, Ralph
Koufax, Sandy
Lemon, Bob
Leonard, Buck
Lopez, Al
Lyons, Ted
Mantle, Mickey
Marichal, Juan
Mathews, Eddie
Mays, Willie
McCovey, Willie
Mize, Johnny
Musial, Stan
Reese, Pee Wee
Roberts, Robin
Robinson, Brooks
Robinson, Frank
Roush, Edd
Schoendienst, Red
Sewell, Joe
Slaughter, Enos
Snider, Duke
Spahn, Warren
Stargell, Willie
Terry, Bill
Wilhelm, Hoyt
Williams, Billy
Williams, Ted
Wynn, Early
Yastrzemski, Carl

Please rate this guide below - fewer than 20 out of over 2,200 visitors have done so!

***** End of Guide:  Metallic Hall of Fame Plaques - (1981-1989) - Copyright 2006, 2007,2008******