1956 Topps Baseball High-Grade Near Set (339/340)....

Description

1956 Topps Baseball High-Grade Near Set (339/340). From the Adolph "Herky" Rupp, Jr. Collection. Missing #135 Mickey Mantle for completion. Topps' 1956 issue was one of their most ambitious, yet attractive, sets. These horizontally-oriented gems feature incredible art and colors. The enjoyable cards of the stars from this "Golden Age," including the rookie card of Hall of Famer, Luis Aparicio, are truly impressive to look at. This set was built from packs, and the cards have great color and gloss throughout the set. A total of 38 cards have been graded by PSA. Includes: Graded - PSA MINT 9: 6 cards, 91, 310, 313, 314, 319, 324; PSA NM-MT+ 8.5: 3 cards, 301, 303, 309; PSA NM-MT 8: 20 cards, 2 Giles, 10 Spahn, 24, 25 Kluszewski, 31 Aaron, 58, 79 Koufax, 83, 95 Braves - name centered, 116, 120 Ashburn, 142, 152, 283, 297, 298, 306, 307 Wilhelm, 323, 339; PSA NM 7: 6 cards, 5 Williams, 107 Mathews, 110 Berra, 130 Mays, 166 Dodgers Team, 226 Giants Team; PSA EX-MT 6: 3 cards, 30 Robinson, 33 Clemente, 292 Aparicio; Ungraded - 1 Harridge (EX/MT), 15 Banks (miscut), 20 Kaline (EX/MT), 61 Skowron (miscut), 99 Zimmer (EX/MT), 101 Campanella (EX), 107 Mathews (EX), 109 Slaughter (EX/MT), 113 Rizzuto (EX/MT), 118 Fox (EX/MT), 145 Hodges (EX), 150 Snider (EX), 164 Killebrew (EX), 165 Schoendienst (EX), 180 Roberts (EX/MT), 181 Martin (VG/EX), 187 Wynn (VG/EX), 194 Irvin (VG/EX), 195 Kell (EX), 200 Feller (EX), 240 Ford (EX), 251 Yankees (EX), 260 Reese (EX), 332 Larsen (NM), 340 McDermott (NM). Grades 33% NM to NM/MT, 50% EX to EX/MT, 17% VG to VG/EX (mostly centering, a few mis-cut). SMR approaches $15,000.00.

More Information: The Adolph F. "Herky" Rupp Jr Collection.

Adolph F. "Herky" Rupp Jr. was born into a world immersed in sports, as the sole offspring of the legendary basketball coach Adolph F. Rupp of Kentucky. This unique upbringing fueled a deep-rooted love for sports. At the tender age of 7, Herky found his calling in the form of sports card collecting, a hobby that he initiated by purchasing gum cards for mere pennies and nickels at his local Corner Grocery.

This childhood pastime swiftly evolved into a profound passion, spanning over the years, and culminating in a comprehensive and diverse collection. His trove features an array of cards from Topps, Bowman, Fleer, Goudey, Kahn, and Play Ball, along with local and regional sets and treasures from the early 1900s, including coveted tobacco and caramel cards.

Herky focused on two primary goals within his collecting journey: the completion of his card sets and the continuous enhancement of his collection's quality. His unwavering enthusiasm and devotion to the hobby remained steadfast for an impressive 68 years until his untimely death from cancer in 2016. His legacy, however, endures in the remarkable collection he amassed, a testament to his love for sports and the art of collecting.