1954 Topps Baseball Full Uncut Sheet of (100) Cards with Aaron RC & Kaline RC and Williams

• Sold For: $12,925
• Year: 1954
• Auction: 2010 July
• Lot #: 1
• Auction Category: Postwar Baseball - 1950s Cards

Having secured the exclusive contractual rights for Ted Williams from Bowman, the 1954 season was a banner one for the Topps Company of Duryea, Pennsylvania. As the confectioner established itself as the kings of cardboard, the third release was instantly popular among the collecting public. To celebrate the five-year contract with Williams, the company took the unprecedented step of making the Red Sox slugger the bookend cards in its annual edition. The “full color picture cards” also featured a comprehensive lineup of established stars along with a stellar cast of rookies such as Aaron, Banks and Kaline. Although smaller in quantity than the two previous releases, dual portrait/action poses along with cartoon player renditions were introduced. While singles from the colorful 1954 edition are readily available on the open market, material such as unopened packs and display boxes are scarce. Although difficult to obtain, complete high-grade 1954 editions and unopened artifacts are available in high profile auctions. However, the vast majority of advanced Topps Baseball collectors have never seen an intact, full uncut sheet of (100) cards. Spared from the printer’s blade, the offered 1954 Topps Baseball uncut sheet of (100) cards is a remarkable find from an acclaimed set and the only known in the hobby. Headlined by the debut cards of #128 Aaron, #201 Kaline and the culminating #250 likeness of “Teddy Ballgame,” the approximately 28x40 collectible has survived six decades in a remarkable state of preservation. Featured are Row One: #139 O’Brien Brothers; Row Two: #250 T. Williams; Row Four: #132 Lasorda RC, #128 Aaron RC, #239 Skowron RC and Row Seven: #201 Kaline RC. Moderate creasing is largely relegated to the periphery, affecting #139 O’Brien Brothers and a handful of other commons. The remaining interior keys including Aaron, Kaline and Williams are free of any significant wear. Additional tears and contusions appear on the right edge, while portions of the bottom two rows have sustained varying degrees of water damage. The mildly bowed surface is vibrant with blistering color and pinpoint registration. Additionally, with exception to the bottom rows, which has modest water damage and an instance of paper loss on #130 Bauer, the reverses are bright and clean. While uncut material from the 1970s is readily available on the open market, full sheets from any season of the 1950s are virtually unheard of. This improbable survivor from the “golden age of baseball” is an absolute once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the advanced Topps specialist. For a complete list of cards on this extraordinary sheet, please visit our website. From top-to-bottom and left-to-rightRow One: #126 Wade, 246, 236, #139 O’Brien Brothers, 190, 233, 202, 207, 134, 227; Row Two: #182 Harmon, #250 T. Williams, 217, 143, 216, 136, 221, 212, 178, 234; Row Three: #213 Fitzpatrick, 179, 242, 232, 218, #187 Manush, 249, 192, 247, 237; Row Four: #206 Crone, #132 Lasorda RC, 244, #128 Aaron RC, #239 Skowron RC, 219, 127, 229, 204, 205; Row Five: #148 Trice, 197, 233, 129, 243, 189, #183 Combs, 137, 176, 214; Row Six: #225 Liddle, 215, 194, 131, 208, 133, 226, 140, 209, 188; Row Seven: #191 Schofield, 185, 181, 196, #201 Kaline RC, 230, 210, 238, 177, 211; Row Eight: #147 Riddle, 241, 144, 142, 184, 193, 246, 199, 145, 220; Row Nine: #146 D. Johnson, 203, 222, 186, 224, 198, 195, 228, 248, 138; Row Ten: #235 V. Law, 150, 231, 135, 141, 130, 149, 240, 200, 180