My 1956 Topps Set - Series 1

Over the next few weeks I will be celebrating a milestone recently reached in my 1956 Topps set build.

Just after my birthday last Saturday I received my 230th different card, leaving me with 112 left to acquire. My set build stands at 67.25%, a four-card purchase from COMC put me over 2/3 completion.

Some things to know before I show off all 230 of my singles across four posts:

• I officially started this set build when I started this blog! There's some symmetry about a foolish and seemingly endless undertaking that has been more rewarding than I could have imagined. Neither is finished, but it would be perfect if my final blog post was about the final card I need for this set.
  
  
• I initially attempted to complete the set in PSA 5 or better, so you will see a lot of slabbed singles. Pandemic pricing has had a permanent effect on sale prices of these cards, so an entirely PSA-graded set seems unpossible at this point.
  
  
• You're going to see some heavy hitters here. This is not meant to brag about my collection. I've made no secret of the fact that I have sold some incredible cards over the years to build 67% of this set. Was it worth it? Probably not, but I'll only regret saying goodbye to Trout and Judge and Bryant (Kris and Kobe) and McDavid and Crosby and Ovechkin if I fail to finish this set. If I succeed, I might retire from collecting completely. Can't imagine anything within my budget that could possibly top this.
  

 
The 1956 Topps set was broken up into four series. Series 1, which we'll look at today, is the largest chunk at 100 cards. Here's how my set shapes up so far.....

 Series 1

1. Will Harridge - American League President

2. Warren Giles - National League President

3. Elmer Valo - Kansas City Athletics



4. Carlos Paula - Washington Senators

5. Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox

6. Ray Boone - Detroit Tigers

7. Ron Negray - Philadelphia Phillies RC

8. Walter Alston  - Brooklyn Dodgers RC

9. Ruben Gomez  - New York Giants 

10. Warren Spahn - Milwaukee Braves

11. Chicago Cubs Team

12. Andy Carey - New York Yankees

13. Roy Face - Pittsburgh Pirates

14. Ken Boyer  - St. Louis Cardinals

15. Ernie Banks  - Chicago Cubs

16. Hector Lopez  - Kansas City Athletics RC

17. Gene Conley - Milwaukee Braves

18. Dick Donovan  - Chicago White Sox

19. Chuck Diering  - Baltimore Orioles

20. Al Kaline - Detroit Tigers

21. Joe Collins  - New York Yankees

22. Jim Finigan - Kansas City Athletics

23. Freddie Marsh - Baltimore Orioles

24. Dick Groat - Pittsburgh Pirates

25. Ted Kluszewski - Cincinnati Reds

26. Grady Hatton - Boston Red Sox



27. Nelson Burbrink - St. Louis Cardinals RC

28. Bobby Hofman - New York Giants

29. Jack Harshman - Chicago White Sox

30. Jackie Robinson  - Brooklyn Dodgers

31. Hank Aaron  - Milwaukee Braves 

32. Frank House - Detroit Tigers

33. Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates

34. Tom Brewer  - Boston Red Sox

35. Al Rosen - Cleveland Indians

36. Rudy Minarcin - Cincinnati Reds

37. Alex Grammas  - St. Louis Cardinals

38. Bob Kennedy - Chicago White Sox

39. Don Mossi  - Cleveland Indians

40. Bob Turley - New York Yankees

41. Hank Sauer - Chicago Cubs

IG tip - Hank Sauer was the NL's MVP in 1952

42. Sandy Amoros - Brooklyn Dodgers

43. Ray Moore - Baltimore Orioles

44. Windy McCall - New York Giants

45. Gus Zernial - Kansas City Athletics

Here's a fun fact about this Zernial card: I have no idea where I got it. I have kept a record of every purchase for this set build - where I bought it, and the price I paid including shipping/tax. The only one I cannot trace is Gus here. [edit: bought it on eBay]

    46. Gene Freese - Pittsburgh Pirates 

47. Art Fowler - Cincinnati Reds

48. Jim Hegan - Cleveland Indians

49. Pedro Ramos - Washington Senators RC

50. Dusty Rhodes - New York Giants

51. Ernie Oravetz  - Washington Senators RC

52. Bob Grim  - New York Yankees

53. Arnie Portocarrero - Kansas City Athletics

54. Bob Keegan - Chicago White Sox

55. Wally Moon - St. Louis Cardinals

I made this mid-grade Moon mine for the pre-pandemic price of $6.63. Deals like that tricked me into thinking I could find players like Portocarrero and Paula for under $7 slabbed. Lol... not anymore... :/

56. Dale Long - Pittsburgh Pirates

57. Duke Maas  - Detroit Tigers RC

Duke's given name was Duane.

58. Ed Roebuck - Brooklyn Dodgers

59. Jose Santiago  - Cleveland Indians RC

60. Mayo Smith - Philadelphia Phillies

It's interesting to me that Mayo here is one of only three managers/coaches in this set. (Good, cause there were at least five Hall of Famers managing in 1955 - not counting Alston.)

61. Bill Skowron - New York Yankees

62. Hal Smith - Baltimore Orioles

Fun fact: this one of two catchers named Hal Smith in the 1956 Topps set. The other Hal Smith also squatted for a bird team.

63. Roger Craig  - Brooklyn Dodgers RC

64. Luis Arroyo  - St. Louis Cardinals RC

65. Johnny O'Brien - Pittsburgh Pirates

66. Bob Speake  - Chicago Cubs RC

If you're keeping score, that's 66 cards and 6 of 'em are of guys named Bob. 1956 was loooong before the Bob Emergency.

67. Vic Power  - Kansas City Athletics

68. Chuck Stobbs - Washington Senators

69. Chuck Tanner - Milwaukee Braves

70. Jim Rivera - Chicago White Sox

71. Frank Sullivan - Boston Red Sox

72. Philadelphia Phillies Team

73. Wayne Terwilliger - New York Giants

There aren't many players in this set who are still living - probably less than 20. "Twig" here held on until 2021, passing away at age 95.

74. Jim King  - Chicago Cubs RC

75. Roy Sievers  - Washington Senators

This poor guy toiled for the St. Louis Browns and both Washington Senators squads. Obviously he never played in a World Series. The only decent squad Sievers was ever involved with was the infamous 1964 Phillies - who traded him to the (second) Senators in mid-season.

76. Ray Crone - Milwaukee Braves

77. Harvey Haddix - St. Louis Cardinals

78. Herman Wehmeier - Philadelphia Phillies

79. Sandy Koufax - Brooklyn Dodgers

It all started with Sandy...

80. Gus Triandos  - Baltimore Orioles

81. Wally Westlake - Philadelphia Phillies

82. Bill Renna  - Kansas City Athletics

83. Karl Spooner - Brooklyn Dodgers

84. Babe Birrer - Detroit Tigers RC

Another nicknamed Bengal hurler here; Birrer's given name was Werner.

85. Cleveland Indians Team

86. Ray Jablonski  - Cincinnati Reds

87. Dean Stone - Washington Senators

88. Johnny Kucks  - New York Yankees RC

89. Norm Zauchin - Boston Red Sox

90. Cincinnati Redlegs Team

Thanks a lot, Soviet Union...

91. Gail Harris  - New York Giants

                                                        92. Red Wilson - Detroit Tigers

Red's given name was Robert. We could have had another Bob!

 93. George Susce Jr. - Boston Red Sox

94. Ronnie Kline - Pittsburgh Pirates

I'm just now noticing that print circle on the left side of Kline's cap, and it bothers me. This is where my purchase log comes in handy; I feel better knowing I only paid $14.30 for this PSA 7 single. I'd be lucky to find a 5 at that price now.

95. Milwaukee Braves Team

Aaron... Mathews... Spahn... oof.

96. Bill Tremel - Chicago Cubs

 97. Jerry Lynch - Pittsburgh Pirates

98. Camilo Pascual - Washington Senators

99. Don Zimmer - Brooklyn Dodgers

100. Baltimore Orioles Team

Next week we'll take a look at the slightly smaller second series, cards #101-180. (I will not have 79% of those!)


I know this was a long post and I tried to mix in some facts - and Easter eggs - to break up the monotony of scanned slabs. Let me know if you found anything interesting ;-)

 

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!



~