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Collection of seven rare programs, dating from 1959 to 1966, representing a complete run (no program was issued for 1964), issued at the Topps' Annual Rookie All-Star Team Awards luncheon, including one that features the rookie signature of Pete Rose. To the best of our knowledge, the signature of Rose displayed in this program represents one of the few signature examples known that can be conclusively dated to his rookie season. What is also significant regarding the 1963 program is that it offers collectors a rare glimpse of what Pete Rose's rookie card would have looked like had he been issued his own card in 1963. Rose did appear in the 1963 Topps set, but his image was squeezed onto a single card (#537 "1963 Rookie Stars") with three other players. For each rookie selected that year, Topps created a 1963 mock-up card to illustrate his respective biographical page. Therefore, the 1963 program offered here is highly desirable both to baseball-card and Pete Rose collectors. The fact that Rose also personally signed this program of course adds to the appeal of this example. In 1959, Sy Berger, one of the chief executives at Topps and the man known today as "The Father of the Bubble-Gum Card," came up with the idea of honoring the top rookie ballplayers in each league by establishing the Topps Rookie All-Star Team Award. Of course, Berger's main objective in selecting an all-star rookie team was to further promote Topps' annual card issues. Not only were the recipients featured in the following year's set with special "All-Star Rookie Team" cards, but the only way in which kids could vote for their favorite players was by filling in and returning a preprinted ballot card, which, conveniently, could be found only in packs of Topps trading cards. To Berger's delight, the concept was a huge success, both with baseball fans and card collectors, and Topps garnered even more publicity by honoring each year's recipients at a formal luncheon held in New York at season's end. Offered here are the programs issued at six of those annual affairs. These programs are rare today and much appreciated by advanced Topps collectors. Each program features mock-up Topps rookie cards and short biographies for each player. All programs are unmarked and measure 5.5 x 8.5 inches, with the exception of the 1965 program, which measures 5.5 x 5.5 inches, and the 1966 program (4 x 9.25 inches). 1) 1959 program: Firmly attached by the spine staples, and displays very modest handling wear. Ex-Mt condition. The highlight of the 1959 program is the page devoted to Willie McCovey, featuring a mock-up of a 1959 Topps McCovey card. 2) 1960 program: Firmly attached by the spine staples, and displays modest handling wear. Ex condition. 3) 1961 program: Firmly attached by the spine staples, and displays very modest handling wear. Ex condition. The highlight of the 1961 program is the page devoted to Billy Williams, featuring a mock-up of his 1961 Topps rookie card. (It is interesting to note that a different image was used on his final production card.) 4) 1962 program: Lesser condition, with heavy wear on the spine, staple degradation, and moisture damage that affects each page. 5) 1963 program: Firmly attached by the spine staples, and displays modest handling wear and a couple light stains on the cover. Gd/Vg condition. The program features the blue-ink signatures ("10") of Elston Howard (on cover), John Briggs (twice), and nine of the ten All-Star Rookie Team Award recipients: Rusty Staub, Pete Rose, Pete Ward, Jimmie Hall, Vic Davalillo, Tommy Harper, Jesse Gonder, Ray Culp, and Gary Peters (missing only Al Weis). All the signatures are personalized either "To Bob," "To Jim," or "To Bob and Jim," with the exception of Howard's signature. 6) 1965 program: Excellent condition, firmly attached at the spine, and includes the delicate wax paper outer jacket cover (which displays light wrinkling). 7) 1966 program: Firmly attached by the spine staples, and displays light handling wear. Vg-Ex condition. An outstanding collection of very rare Topps Rookie Banquet Programs. Total: 7 programs. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA and Steve Grad and Brian Sobrero/Beckett Authentication Services. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $500. Estimate (open).