Fresh to the hobby (a multi-generational heirloom hailing from Colorado) comes this 1957 Topps Baseball complete set of 407 cards in mostly mid-grade or better condition (EX to NM), with dozens of high-grade examples mixed in. With several key rookies and a strong lineup of Hall of Famers, Topps raised the bar yet again on the gum company's impressive six-year run during what is now considered the Golden Era of baseball card collecting. Notable changes made from previous issues were more compact dimensions (2.5" x 3.5"), player statistics covering each player's entire career on the backs, and full color photography (either bust portraits or in-action poses). The shorter printed rarities are found not in the high numbers but in the second of the set’s three series (#s 265-352).

We submitted 15 Hall of Famers, rookie and stars from this elite set) and the results are as follows: #1 Ted Williams – SGC EX/NM 6; #2 Yogi Berra – SGC NM 7; #10 Willie Mays – SGC EX 5; #18 Don Drysdale RC – SGC EX 5; #20 Hank Aaron – SGC VG/EX+ 4.5; #24 Bill Mazeroski RC – SGC EX 5; #35 Frank Robinson RC – SGC EX 5; #55 Ernie Banks – SGC EX/NM 6; #76 Roberto Clemente – SGC EX 5; #95 Mickey Mantle – SGC VG/EX 4; #120 Bob Lemon – SGC NM 7; #250 Eddie Mathews – SGC EX/NM 6; #312 Tony Kubek RC – SGC NM 7; #328 Brooks Robinson RC – SGC EX/NM+ 6.5; #338 Jim Bunning RC – SGC EX 5.

We were surprised by some of SGC's rather lackluster grading decisions considering the sharpness, cleanliness and terrific eye appeal of this set. There are several more grading opportunities among the raw cards. Other notables include: #7 Aparicio EX, #15 R.Roberts EX/NM (PD), #25 W.Ford EX (PD), #29 Herzog RC EX, #30 Reese VG+, #38 N.Fox EX, #40 Wynn EX+, #50 Score VG/EX, #62 B.Martin EX, #70 Ashburn NM, #80 Hodges VG, #82 E.Howard EX/NM (PD), #85 Doby EX/NM, #90 Spahn NM+, #97 Yankees Team VG+, #100 League Presidents VG/EX, #121 C.Boyer RC EX, #122 K.Boyer EX, #125 Kaline EX/NM+, #130 Newcombe EX, #138 Minoso EX, #154 Schoendienst NM, #165 Kluszewski EX/NM, #160 Pierce NM, #170 Snider EX/NM, #175 Larsen NM+, #197 H.Sauer NM/MT, #203 Wilhelm EX, #210 Campanella EX/NM (PD), #212 Colavito RC EX/NM, #215 Slaughter EX/NM (OC), #230 Kell EX/NM (PD), #240 H.Bauer VG/EX, #252 Erskine NM/MT, #269 Cerv NM, #270 Senators Team EX, #272 Shantz EX/NM, #277 Podres NM/MT, Richardson RC EX/NM+, #284 Zimmer EX/NM, #295 Collins EX/NM, #300 Garcia EX, #302 Koufax VG/EX (MC on back), #317 NY Giants Team VG/EX, #319 Cimoli EX/NM, #324 Dodgers Team VG, #329 White Sox Team EX+, #333 E.Johnson NM, #350 Miksis NM/MT, #367 FitzGerald NM/MT, #391 R.Terry EX/NM, #400 Dodgers Sluggers EX/NM, and #407 Yankees Power Hitters VG (MK front, MC back).