WHEN IT COMES TO CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES LIKE PETE ROSE AND ‘SHOELESS’ JOE JACKSON, THE HOBBY IMPACT OF SPORTS’ HIGHEST HONOR REMAINS TO BE SEEN
By Joe Orlando | August 5, 2025
The Hall of Fame is, in the opinion of most, the highest honor in sports. It recognizes that the inductee not only reached greatness at some point during his career but also sustained it for an extended period. It is the ultimate payoff for all the hard work, discipline, and dedication to the craft, as you are enshrined forever for future generations to see. Your contribution is etched for all time.
In the hobby, officially becoming a Hall of Famer can change the way collectors perceive you. This brings us to the relatively recent news of prominent names like “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Pete Rose being reinstated by Major League Baseball, thus making them eligible for consideration for the first time. Until this past spring, both men had been on MLB’s permanently ineligible list – Jackson for his role in fixing the 1919 World Series and Rose for betting on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. As it relates to Rose, whether you agree or disagree with the decision, the timing is perplexing. Reinstating Rose only after his death, which occurred less than a year ago, almost feels like a parting shot. While Rose can no longer feel the impact, the hobby can.
Over the past few months, countless collectors have asked the same question: “If Rose or Jackson is ever enshrined in Cooperstown, do you think the value of their collectibles will rise?”
It has made for a spirited discussion, and valid points can be made on both sides of the argument. In the case of Jackson, some hobbyists feel the infamy and mystery surrounding his tragic tale add to his appeal. In their view, Jackson’s admission into the Hall of Fame would overshadow the controversy. They feel the positive news will reduce the number of times his name is brought up and his story is retold for future generations, since the controversy is what makes it so compelling.
Several cards featuring ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson are already coveted without a Hall of Fame label behind his name, but with it, demand would surely increase. Among the Jackson cards offered in Heritage’s August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction are these sought-after examples: a 1914 Cracker Jack card, a 1916 M101-4 Sporting News card, and a 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy card.
In the case of Rose, a similar argument can be made. Conversely, the position tends to be delivered with more emotion, on both sides, since there are plenty of people still alive who watched him play with reckless abandon and witnessed his downfall after some reckless decisions. The Rose situation hits closer to home for far more fans and collectors, which is why his future as a potential Hall of Famer often dominates the current conversation.
While I understand the viewpoints articulated above, I will always lean toward the Hall of Fame moniker being a net positive. First and foremost, many collectors are motivated by “the list.” What list am I referring to? It’s the list they choose to follow. It can be anything from a natural checklist issued by a card manufacturer to a customized list that is created entirely by the collector.
The list is not necessarily crucial because of who designed it; the importance is driven by who decides to follow it to completion. We have all followed a list, even if self-imposed or subconscious, as collectors. Checking things off the list can bring us joy as we continue to build our collections. It’s what we do and how we are wired. The list provides structure and a goal. For that reason, if Jackson or Rose ever became part of one of the most important lists of all, it would only increase demand, in my opinion.
If you collect autographed Hall of Fame rookie cards, signed debut tickets, or game-worn jerseys and Pete Rose is enshrined someday, examples like these, featured in Heritage’s August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, go from optional to must-have items. Pictured, from top to bottom: a signed 1963 Topps Pete Rose Rookie Stars #537, a signed 1963 Pete Rose Major League debut ticket stub, and a 1985 Pete Rose game-worn and photo-matched Cincinnati Reds jersey.
Assuming they are enshrined and become part of the Hall of Fame list, now they cease being optional collectibles; they are must-haves for those seeking completion under that theme. Whether you collect rookie cards or game-used bats of Hall of Famers, you now need to fill that void. Otherwise, you will never reach completion. Of course, no one is forcing a collector to follow a Hall of Fame list of any kind, but some hobbyists choose that natural label as their theme.
Collectibles featuring or associated with the Babe Ruths and Hank Aarons of the world are affected less in some ways than ones tied to the Freddie Lindstroms or Don Suttons. The A-listers already garner overwhelming demand; it’s the collectibles of the borderline selections that benefit most. In fact, conversely, Jackson and Rose are part of an exclusive club of non-Hall of Famers whose popularity in the hobby defies any Cooperstown requirement. This group includes statistical juggernauts like Barry Bonds and fan favorites like Roger Maris and Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees. Their collectibles often trade as if they are enshrined, and then some, already.
Even without the benefit of the Hall of Fame moniker, this game-worn and photo-matched Roger Maris full uniform from his epic 1961 season sold for a record $1,586,000, and a PSA Mint 9, 1971 Topps Thurman Munson sold for $199,999, both at Heritage Auctions.
In addition to the powerful force that is “the list,” each of their stories can still be told, even if enshrinement takes place. Being added to the Hall of Fame doesn’t change their complicated and fascinating stories. It merely adds another chapter to their tales. Their lives, as well as ours, are a body of work, filled with hits, misses, and nuance. There are valid reasons to put Jackson and Rose in, and to keep them out. That is, however, not what this article is about.
No matter how we feel about the figures at issue, no matter the sport or the era, being a member of the Hall of Fame is a ticket to automatic inclusion on some hobby checklists. That is why it will always matter to our field, whether it alters the course of your collecting focus or not.
The Hall of Fame game is as real as it gets in the hobby, and it remains to be seen if its blessing will eventually impact these names or others.
