The 'grand daddy' of all card sets, the 52 Topps BB issue is the benchmark by which all other cards are compared. This 407 card classic has it all - beatiful photography, tough SP's, scarce High Numbers and the key card in the hobby, Mickey's first Topps card. The set represents even more of a challenge to the signed card collector - especially given the value to simply get the underlying raw cards in the first place can be prohibitive, ie., even a fair/poor Mantle rookie can sell for $1000. Setting aside cost, the 1952 Topps set is a rewarding challenge as most of the tough signatures are included - Wehmeier, Fox, Meyer, Stirnweiss, Bickford, Drews, Hutchinson, etc.

One of the most widely collected sets in signed form due in part to its size (almost 50% shorter than the 52 set) and its beauty. The 1953 card portraits are works of art that blend perfectly with the players signature. The 1953 Topps set contains a few additional toughies - not found in the 52 set namely Don Hoak (d. 1969), Bobo Newsome (d. 1962), Bill Norman (d. 1962), Johnny Lindell and Satchel Paige (d. 1982), the great Hall of Famer whose signature is always in high demand. The set also contains a very desirable Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle and many of the early Dodger and Yankee greats - Campanella, Berra, Ford, Martin, and Reese.

1954 Topps Signed Cards

The 1954 Topps set not only boasts this claim - but it also features three great hall of famer rookies - Aaron, Banks and Kaline. In 1954, Topps expanded its use of coaches cards meaning toughies like Rowe (d. 1961), Kress (d. 1962) and O'Neill (d. 1962) are present. Another challenge for signed card collectors was the Bowman card war. Topps lost many players from '53 and as a result the set contains hard-to-find prospects and players such as Mike Ryba (d. 1971), Mickey Micelotta and Angel Scull.

1955 Topps Signed Cards

Complete at 206 cards, the 1955 Topps set might be the easiest attainable set for signed card collectors - except that it also features the extremely difficult rookie card of Roberto Clemente (d. 1972). Of course Clemente cards present a challenge for collectors for all the Topps sets through 1972. The presence of HOF rookies Sandy Koufax and Harmon Killebrew also enhance the sets cost, if the difficulty. As with in 1954, the 1955 set also featured a number of hard-to-find prospects, and coaches such as Kress and Pinky Higgins (d. 1969). The key to the set may well be the Golden Greek, Harry Agganis, who died a few months into his rookie campaign with the Red Sox in 1955. Like Ernie Davis, Ken Hubbs and Brian Piccolo, Agganis left behind a legacy of promise and a challenge for the signed card collector.

1956 Topps Signed Cards

Topps produced another winner with this popular over-sized set in 1956. Complete at 320 player cards, the 1956 Topps set presents a challenge for signed card collectors due to its trio of stars who left us far too soon - Clemente, Hodges, and Jackie Robinson (his last card appearance). The set also included a few other toughies - Jack Meyer (d. 1967), Dixie Howell (d. 1960), Hank Thompson and Don Hoak (both d. 1969) and Ellis Kinder (d. 1968). The set represents the height of competitive baseball in New York - and with Bowman's demise the roster of 1956 Topps stars includes Reese, Snider, Campy, Berra, Mantle, Ford, Martin and Larsen. The set also includes two commissioner of baseball cards - Warren Giles (d. 1979) and William Harridge (d. 1971) - which are tough mostly because very few people probably thought to ask them for their autograph.

1957 Topps Signed Cards

1957 represents Topps finest effort - a beautiful full color set that marked the introduction of the standard size card with full statistics on the reverse. The set presents a challenge for the signed card collector due to its size, its star power - basically a 1956 rerun with nearly a dozen top rookies replacing the Robinson and Reese. A few notables not mentioned elsewhere - Ron Northey (d. 1971), Dave Jolly (d. 1963) and Sam Jones (d. 1971)

1958 Topps Signed Cards

Topps colorful backdrops blend beautifully with signatures and makes the 1958 set one of the most popular with signed card collectors. The set features the rookie card of Roger Maris, then of the Cleveland Indians. few notable toughies making their first appearance in this set include Don Rudolph (d. 1968), Dick Brown (d. 1970) and Murray Wall (d. 1971). The addition of the first-ever All-Star subset doubles the sets star power - as two cards of Mantle, Mays, Williams, Banks, Frank Robinson, Spahn and Hank Aaron increase the set's wattage. Topps also continued with its use of multi-player cards started in 1954 - with dual superstar cards (Mantle/Aaron, Williams/Kluszewski and Snider/Mays) making a greater challenge for signed card collectors.

1959 Topps Signed Cards

A virtual rerun from a content standpoint, the 1959 set closely paralleled the previous years effort - with a subset of high number All-Star cards and an overly colorful card motif. Stan Musial makes his first ever regular card appearance in this issue, but the "rookie" appearance of Ford Frick (d. 1978) might be of more concern to signed card collectors. Topps also included a series of "highlights" cards - giving some expensive signers such as Mantle, Mays and Aaron a shot at a third 1959 card. Other notables not previously mentioned include Lou Jackson (d. 1969) and Clint Courtney (d.1975)