1958 Hires Root Beer Set?

ajw

Anyone know anything about this set? How rare is it? Has it been counterfeited?

1958 Hires Willie Mays

WinPitcher

AJ

from what i understand Hires came out with a test set and then a set w/tabs. the set w/tabs was given away with a six pack of soda.

im not too familiar with this issue, but i assume it was a regional not a national one. I could though be wrong.

i see your looking at the one on ebay for your willie mays set.

they I think are similar to the red man tobacco cards in size eyc.

im sorry i wish i knew more about this issue.

im sure guys like jay wolt would know more about it then me.

good luck

steve

Stone193

The size of the cards is the same for the test vs. regular issue - 2 5/16 X 3 1/2" - the test issue was offered with the tabs which was for Hires Baseball Fan Club.

IF there is no tab the issue is worth about 50% The entire sets books for 2400$ Nm.

The May books at 750$ NM with tab.

The one is the auction has creases - so in Vg the card is worth 225$ and 50% less for missing tab - so about 100$.

mike

baseballfanatic

None counterfeited that I know of. That is a Willie Mays test which is quite a bit more difficult then the regular Hires. The tests are orange or yellow backrounds where as the regular Hires were woodgrained with the "knothole" featuring the player. Both sets were issued with tabs.............

ajw

Thanks for the info, guys. Does PSA only grade examples still retaining their tabs (like Red Man)?

baseballfanatic

They will grade both versions, with or without the tab.............

Griffins

The test set is much tougher and much uglier than the main set- and almost impossible with the tab. I've seen 2 with the tabs in the last 4 years, 2 Antonelli's and a Fernandez. They were all in about Ex condition and went for 500-600 each. If anyone has any with the tabs I've got some to trade, both with and without. The design that Hires went with for the full set (the knot hole design) was one of the 3 designs considered for the '56 Bowman set, had Topps not bought them out. I believe Topps provided the design and printing for the Hires set.
Regular sets with tabs were available thru Bruce Yeko up thru at least the late '70's for 19.95 They are found pretty often in catalog auctions, the set going for around $3600 every time. Sets without tabs are about 2K. Centering is the big concern with the regular set- the tests you tend to take what you can find and be happy you found them.
The test set consists of 8 cards, Mays being the only one of any significance. I think the guide is off on this set as well, at least in EX or better. The sizes of the test cards seem pretty consistant, the regular set varies a lot.