This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/27/2010
One of Topps most eclectic issues is the seldom seen 1964 Topps Rookie All Star Banquet set. In 1959, Topps began sponsoring a post-season banquet to honor its annual Rookie All Star Team. Then, in 1964, the prestigious gum company elected to issue a 36 subject set in place of the typical dinner program. By far, the set’s most obscure and valuable subject is card #12 that includes Pete Rose as one of the 1963 rookie all-star team members. With that in mind, presented here is that ultra scarce #12 subject including Pete Rose in a spectacular PSA 8 holder. How rare is this card? Consider that PSA has only encapsulated 1 other example with this supreme offering the sole PSA 8 copy and highest graded PSA specimen! While the renowned Pete Rose 1963 rookie card is his most highly sought after card, this high-grade offering just may be his rarest cardboard memento. Although the all-time hit leader was banned from the Hall of Fame for his gambling exploits, his popularity is still immense with a myriad of Rose collectors actively pursuing his most valuable and desirable cardboard collectibles, and we cannot imagine any other issue possibly competing with the paucity level of this supreme offering. The card itself measures approximately 3” x 5-1/4” and includes ten lightly blue tinted portrait images of the following players: Rusty Staub (1b), Pete Rose (2b), Al Weis (ss), Pete Ward (3b), Jimmie Hall (of), Vic Davalillo (of), Tommy Harper (of), Jessie Gonder (catcher), Ray Culp (rhp), and Gary Peters (lhp). While players such as Staub, Davalillo, Harper and Peters did enjoy somewhat formidable major league careers (with Staub easily the most prestigious of that group), it is Pete Rose who easily ranks as “leader of the pack” via his all-time hit king status. Simply stated, this card, regardless of condition, is virtually never seen in the hobby, let alone the one that resides as “the best of the rest”. Furthermore, considering its pristine like qualities including premier contrast/clarity, sharp corners/edging, clean surfaces and fine print registration have rendered it the finest of its kind, we highly encourage any elite Pete Rose collector to capture what is arguably his toughest cardboard keepsake!