The goal of the project is to create the most difficult combination of a 1956 PSA Basic or if funds allow, PSA Master Set, and track the build from start to finish. The intended novelty of the set is mid-high PSA-graded uniformity, centered, with rare back variations. The minimum criteria for the card must be PSA 9 surface and positioning, and letting the corners dictate the balance of the grade. If a Mantle comes up with perfect surface and centering, the corners become less consequential. When the project started, the heavier hitters like Mantle, Aaron, Mays, etc, were possible, but in the last year there has been another explosion in card values and reaching the goal feels a little more daunting (expensive).
A number of cards that meet the criteria were pulled from a rack pack, including the Ed Mathews WB with an anticipated grade of 7, and so it will be included in the set to avoid the cost of replacement. Additional packs might yield cards in a similar condition and if so, no attempts will be made to replace them either. A number of cards in the pack had the wrong back, including a Yogi Berra, and these cards will be sold to offset the costs of acquiring the correct cards and these transactions will also be documented. Given the size of the collection and the strict parameters, and thus, cost, the target completion date is 2025. The current value of a complete set of PSA 8’s (priced individually) is around $100,000.
“The Hard Way” refers to the low population variations in the cards; 1 to 100 must be gray-back and cards 101 to 180 must be white-back. For some cards, with such scarcity, there is little choice when it comes to card condition and for these cards the rules will be relaxed a little but with the intention of replacing them as opportunities present themselves. There have been rare versions in brutal condition sell raw for sub-$1k gavel-pricing, so being too picky can result in a set that will never be completed.
Updated: April 20, 2021
(ave. $31.30 / card)
Card | Player | Cost | Looks-Like Grade | Actual Grade | Certificate | Poss. Value | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Harridge (gb) | ||||||
2 | Warren Giles (gb) | ||||||
3 | Elmer Valo (gb) | ||||||
4 | Carlos Paula (gb) | ||||||
5 | Ted Williams (gb) | ||||||
6 | Ray Boone (gb) | ||||||
7 | Ron Negray (gb) | ||||||
8 | Walter Alston (gb) | ||||||
9 | Ruben Gomez (gb) | 37.21 | Rack Pack #2 | ||||
10 | Warren Spahn (gb) | ||||||
11 | Cubs Team (name left gb) | 42.41 | |||||
12 | Andy Carey (gb) | 32.41 | 8.0 | ||||
13 | Roy Face (gb) | ||||||
14 | Ken Boyer (gb) | ||||||
15 | Ernie Banks (gb) | ||||||
16 | Hector Lopez (gb) | ||||||
17 | Gene Conley (gb) | ||||||
18 | Dick Donovan (gb) | ||||||
19 | Chuck Diering (gb) | ||||||
20 | Al Kaline (gb) | ||||||
21 | Joe Collins (gb) | 23.50 | Rack Pack #1 | ||||
22 | Jim Finigan (gb) | ||||||
23 | Freddie Marsh (gb) | ||||||
24 | Dick Groat (gb) | 40.61 | 8.0 | ||||
25 | Ted Kluszewski (gb) | ||||||
26 | Grady Hatton (gb) | ||||||
27 | Nelson Burbrink (gb) | ||||||
28 | Bobby Hofman (gb) | ||||||
29 | Jack Harshman (gb) | ||||||
30 | Jackie Robinson (gb) | ||||||
31 | Hank Aaron (gb) | ||||||
32 | Frank House (gb) | ||||||
33 | Roberto Clemente (gb) | ||||||
34 | Tom Brewer (gb) | 18.55 | 8.0 | ||||
35 | Al Rosen (gb) | ||||||
36 | Rudy Minarcin (gb) | ||||||
37 | Alex Grammas (gb) | ||||||
38 | Bob Kennedy (gb) | ||||||
39 | Don Mossi (gb) | ||||||
40 | Bob Turley (gb) | ||||||
41 | Hank Sauer (gb) | ||||||
42 | Sandy Amoros (gb) | ||||||
43 | Ray Moore (gb) | 12.15 | 8.0 | ||||
44 | Windy McCall (gb) | ||||||
45 | Gus Zernial (gb) | ||||||
46 | Gene Freese (gb) | 15.00 | 8.0 | ||||
47 | Art Fowler (gb) | ||||||
48 | Jim Hegan (gb) | ||||||
49 | Pedro Ramos (gb) | 37.21 | Rack Pack #2 | ||||
50 | Dusty Rhodes (gb) | 23.50 | Rack Pack #1 | ||||
51 | Ernie Oravetz (gb) | 22.44 | 8.0 | ||||
52 | Bob Grim (gb) | ||||||
53 | Arnold Portocarrero (gb) | ||||||
54 | Bob Keegan (gb) | ||||||
55 | Wally Moon (gb) | ||||||
56 | Dale Long (gb) | ||||||
57 | Duke Maas (gb) | ||||||
58 | Ed Roebuck (gb) | ||||||
59 | Jose Santiago (gb) | 23.50 | 7.0 | Rack Pack #1 | |||
60 | Mayo Smith (gb) | ||||||
61 | Bill Skowron (gb) | ||||||
62 | Hal Smith (gb) | ||||||
63 | Roger Craig (gb) | ||||||
64 | Luis Arroyo (gb) | ||||||
65 | Johnny O'Brien (gb) | 23.50 | Rack Pack #1 | ||||
66 | Bob Speake (gb) | ||||||
67 | Vic Power (gb) | ||||||
68 | Chuck Stobbs (gb) | ||||||
69 | Chuck Tanner (gb) | ||||||
70 | Jim Rivera (gb) | ||||||
71 | Frank Sullivan (gb) | ||||||
72 | Phillies Team (name left gb) | ||||||
73 | Wayne Terwilliger (gb) | 20.46 | 8.0 | ||||
74 | Jim King (gb) | ||||||
75 | Roy Sievers (gb) | ||||||
76 | Ray Crone (gb) | 16.23 | 8.0 | ||||
77 | Harvey Haddix (gb) | ||||||
78 | Herman Wehmeier (gb) | ||||||
79 | Sandy Koufax (gb) | ||||||
80 | Gus Triandos (gb) | ||||||
81 | Wally Westlake (gb) | ||||||
82 | Bill Renna (gb) | ||||||
83 | Karl Spooner (gb) | ||||||
84 | Babe Birrer (gb) | 23.50 | 7.0 | Rack Pack #1 | |||
85 | Indians Team (name left gb) | ||||||
86 | Ray Jablonski (gb) | ||||||
87 | Dean Stone (gb) | ||||||
88 | Johnny Kucks (gb) | ||||||
89 | Norm Zauchin (gb) | 37.21 | Rack Pack #2 | ||||
90 | Redlegs Team (name left gb) | ||||||
91 | Gail Harris (gb) | ||||||
92 | Red Wilson (gb) | ||||||
93 | George Susce Jr. (gb) | 57.05 | 8.0 | ||||
94 | Ronnie Kline (gb) | ||||||
95 | Braves Team (name left gb) | 261.13 | 8.0 | ||||
96 | Bill Tremel (gb) | 17.96 | 8.0 | ||||
97 | Jerry Lynch (gb) | ||||||
98 | Camilo Pascual (gb) | 82.58 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 49404188 | 650.00 | Bought anticipating a 9 |
99 | Don Zimmer (gb) | ||||||
100 | Orioles Team (name left gb) | ||||||
101 | Roy Campanella (wb) | ||||||
102 | Jim Davis (wb) | ||||||
103 | Willie Miranda (wb) | 51.53 | 7.0 | ||||
104 | Bob Lennon (wb) | ||||||
105 | Al Smith (wb) | ||||||
106 | Joe Astroth (wb) | ||||||
107 | Ed Mathews (wb) | 23.50 | 7.0 | Rack Pack #1 | |||
108 | Laurin Pepper (wb) | 72.58 | 7.0 | ||||
109 | Enos Slaughter (wb) | ||||||
110 | Yogi Berra (gb) | 37.21 | Rack Pack #2 (gray back, will replace) | ||||
111 | Red Sox Team (wb) | ||||||
112 | Dee Fondy (wb) | ||||||
113 | Phil Rizzuto (wb) | ||||||
114 | Jim Owens (wb) | ||||||
115 | Jackie Jensen (wb) | ||||||
116 | Eddie O'Brien (wb) | 51.05 | 7.0 | 2 cards submitted (1 Economy, 1 Quarterly Special) | |||
117 | Virgil Trucks (wb) | ||||||
118 | Nellie Fox (wb) | ||||||
119 | Larry Jackson (wb) | ||||||
120 | Richie Ashburn (wb) | 115.69 | 7.0 | ||||
121 | Pirates Team (wb) | ||||||
122 | Willard Nixon (wb) | ||||||
123 | Roy McMillan (wb) | 12.78 | 6.0 | ||||
124 | Don Kaiser (wb) | ||||||
125 | Minnie Minoso (wb) | ||||||
126 | Jim Brady (wb) | ||||||
127 | Willie Jones (wb) | ||||||
128 | Eddie Yost (wb) | ||||||
129 | Jake Martin (wb) | ||||||
130 | Willie Mays (wb) | ||||||
131 | Bob Roselli (wb) | ||||||
132 | Bobby Avila (wb) | ||||||
133 | Ray Narleski (wb) | 8.54 | 6.0 | ||||
134 | Cardinals Team (wb) | ||||||
135 | Mickey Mantle (wb) | ||||||
136 | Johnny Logan (wb) | ||||||
137 | Al Silvera (wb) | ||||||
138 | Johnny Antonelli (wb) | ||||||
139 | Tommy Carroll (wb) | 65.62 | 7.0 | ||||
140 | Herb Score (wb) | ||||||
141 | Joe Frazier (wb) | ||||||
142 | Gene Baker (wb) | ||||||
143 | Jim Piersall (wb) | ||||||
144 | Leroy Powell (wb) | ||||||
145 | Gil Hodges (wb) | ||||||
146 | Nationals Team (wb) | ||||||
147 | Earl Torgeson (wb) | ||||||
148 | Alvin Dark (wb) | ||||||
149 | Dixie Howell (wb) | ||||||
150 | Duke Snider (wb) | ||||||
151 | Spook Jacobs (wb) | ||||||
152 | Billy Hoeft (wb) | 11.41 | 6.0 | ||||
153 | Frank Thomas (wb) | ||||||
154 | Dave Pope (wb) | ||||||
155 | Harvey Kuenn (wb) | ||||||
156 | Wes Westrum (wb) | ||||||
157 | Dick Brodowski (wb) | ||||||
158 | Wally Post (wb) | ||||||
159 | Clint Courtney (wb) | ||||||
160 | Billy Pierce (wb) | ||||||
161 | Joe DeMaestri (wb) | ||||||
162 | Gus Bell (wb) | ||||||
163 | Gene Woodling (wb) | ||||||
164 | Harmon Killebrew (wb) | ||||||
165 | Red Schoendienst (wb) | ||||||
166 | Dodgers Team (wb) | ||||||
167 | Harry Dorish (wb) | ||||||
168 | Sammy White (wb) | ||||||
169 | Bob Nelson (wb) | ||||||
170 | Bill Virdon (wb) | ||||||
171 | Jim Wilson (wb) | ||||||
172 | Frank Torre (wb) | 59.88 | 7.0 | ||||
173 | Johnny Podres (wb) | ||||||
174 | Glen Gorbous (wb) | ||||||
175 | Del Crandall (wb) | ||||||
176 | Alex Kellner (wb) | ||||||
177 | Hank Bauer (wb) | ||||||
178 | Joe Black (wb) | 68.24 | 8.0 | 2 cards submitted (1 Economy, 1 Quarterly Special) | |||
179 | Harry Chiti (wb) | ||||||
180 | Robin Roberts (wb) | ||||||
181 | Billy Martin | ||||||
182 | Paul Minner | ||||||
183 | Stan Lopata | ||||||
184 | Don Bessent | ||||||
185 | Bill Bruton | ||||||
186 | Ron Jackson | ||||||
187 | Early Wynn | 49.26 | 7.0 | Looks like an 8 but missed a small mark | |||
188 | White Sox Team | ||||||
189 | Ned Garver | ||||||
190 | Carl Furillo | ||||||
191 | Frank Lary | ||||||
192 | Smoky Burgess | ||||||
193 | Wilmer Mizell | ||||||
194 | Monte Irvin | ||||||
195 | George Kell | ||||||
196 | Tom Poholsky | ||||||
197 | Granny Hamner | ||||||
198 | Ed Fitzgerald | ||||||
199 | Hank Thompson | ||||||
200 | Bob Feller | ||||||
201 | Rip Repulski | 21.65 | 8.0 | ||||
202 | Jim Hearn | ||||||
203 | Bill Tuttle | ||||||
204 | Art Swanson | ||||||
205 | Whitey Lockman | ||||||
206 | Erv Palica | ||||||
207 | Jim Small | ||||||
208 | Elston Howard | ||||||
209 | Max Surkont | ||||||
210 | Mike Garcia | ||||||
211 | Murry Dickson | ||||||
212 | Johnny Temple | ||||||
213 | Tigers Team | ||||||
214 | Bob Rush | ||||||
215 | Tommy Byrne | ||||||
216 | Jerry Schoonmaker | ||||||
217 | Billy Klaus | ||||||
218 | Joe Nuxall | ||||||
219 | Lew Burdette | ||||||
220 | Del Ennis | ||||||
221 | Bob Friend | ||||||
222 | Dave Philley | ||||||
223 | Randy Jackson | ||||||
224 | Bud Podbielan | ||||||
225 | Gil McDougald | ||||||
226 | Giants Team | 115.37 | 8.0 | Beautiful | |||
227 | Russ Meyer | ||||||
228 | Mickey Vernon | ||||||
229 | Harry Brecheen | ||||||
230 | Chico Carrasquel | ||||||
231 | Bob Hale | ||||||
232 | Toby Atwell | ||||||
233 | Carl Erskine | ||||||
234 | Pete Runnels | ||||||
235 | Don Newcombe | ||||||
236 | Athletics Team | ||||||
237 | Jose Valdivielso | ||||||
238 | Walt Dropo | ||||||
239 | Harry Simpson | ||||||
240 | Whitey Ford | ||||||
241 | Don Mueller | ||||||
242 | Hershell Freeman | ||||||
243 | Sherm Lollar | ||||||
244 | Bob Buhl | ||||||
245 | Billy Goodman | ||||||
246 | Tom Gorman | ||||||
247 | Bill Sarni | ||||||
248 | Bob Porterfield | ||||||
249 | Johnny Klippstein | ||||||
250 | Larry Doby | ||||||
251 | Yankees Team | ||||||
252 | Vernon Law | ||||||
253 | Irv Noren | ||||||
254 | George Crowe | ||||||
255 | Bob Lemon | ||||||
256 | Tom Hurd | ||||||
257 | Bobby Thomson | ||||||
258 | Art Ditmar | ||||||
259 | Sam Jones | ||||||
260 | Pee Wee Reese | ||||||
261 | Bobby Shantz | ||||||
262 | Howie Pollet | ||||||
263 | Bob Miller | ||||||
264 | Ray Monzant | ||||||
265 | Sandy Consuegra | ||||||
266 | Don Ferrarese | ||||||
267 | Bob Nieman | ||||||
268 | Dale Mitchell | ||||||
269 | Jack Meyer | 23.50 | Rack Pack #1 | ||||
270 | Billy Loes | ||||||
271 | Foster Castleman | 23.50 | 8.0 | Rack Pack #1 | |||
272 | Danny O'Connell | 21.40 | |||||
273 | Walker Cooper | ||||||
274 | Frank Baumholtz | ||||||
275 | Jim Greengrass | ||||||
276 | George Zuverink | ||||||
277 | Daryl Spencer | ||||||
278 | Chet Nichols | ||||||
279 | Johnny Groth | ||||||
280 | Jim Gilliam | ||||||
281 | Art Houtteman | ||||||
282 | Warren Hacker | ||||||
283 | Hal Smith | 16.86 | 8.0 | ||||
284 | Ike Delock | ||||||
285 | Eddie Miksis | ||||||
286 | Bill Wight | ||||||
287 | Bobby Adams | ||||||
288 | Bob Cerv | ||||||
289 | Hal Jeffcoat | ||||||
290 | Curt Simmons | ||||||
291 | Frank Kellert | ||||||
292 | Luis Aparicio | ||||||
293 | Stu Miller | ||||||
294 | Ernie Johnson | ||||||
295 | Clem Labine | ||||||
296 | Andy Seminick | ||||||
297 | Bob Skinner | ||||||
298 | Johnny Schmitz | ||||||
299 | Charley Neal | ||||||
300 | Vic Wertz | 26.03 | 8.0 | ||||
301 | Marv Grissom | ||||||
302 | Eddie Robinson | ||||||
303 | Jim Dyck | ||||||
304 | Frank Malzone | ||||||
305 | Brooks Lawrence | ||||||
306 | Curt Roberts | ||||||
307 | Hoyt Wilhelm | ||||||
308 | Chuck Harmon | ||||||
309 | Don Blasingame | ||||||
310 | Steve Gromek | ||||||
311 | Hal Naragon | ||||||
312 | Andy Pafko | 23.50 | 8.0 | Rack Pack #1 | |||
313 | Gene Stephens | ||||||
314 | Hobie Landrith | 63.52 | 9.0 | ||||
315 | Milt Bolling | 22.00 | 8.0 | ||||
316 | Jerry Coleman | ||||||
317 | Al Aber | ||||||
318 | Fred Hatfield | ||||||
319 | Jack Crimian | ||||||
320 | Joe Adcock | ||||||
321 | Jim Konstanty | ||||||
322 | Karl Olson | ||||||
323 | Willard Schmidt | ||||||
324 | Rocky Bridges | ||||||
325 | Don Liddle | ||||||
326 | Connie Johnson | ||||||
327 | Bob Wiesler | ||||||
328 | Preston Ward | ||||||
329 | Lou Berberet | ||||||
330 | Jim Busby | ||||||
331 | Dick Hall | 13.03 | 8.0 | ||||
332 | Don Larsen | ||||||
333 | Rube Walker | ||||||
334 | Bob Miller | ||||||
335 | Don Hoak | 10.63 | 8.0 | ||||
336 | Ellis Kinder | 35.93 | 8.0 | ||||
337 | Bobby Morgan | ||||||
338 | Jim Delsing | ||||||
339 | Rance Pless | ||||||
340 | Mickey McDermott |