Starting in 1959 and running through 1966, Topps hosted a season-ending tribute to the best rookies in all of baseball by way of an awards banquet held annually in New York City. Typically, invitees to the event were given a specially made banquet program honoring the award-winning rookies. In-lieu-of a program in 1964, Topps issued a unique 3" x 5-1/4" postcard-sized 36-card boxed set to honor the new All-Star Rookie class. These extremely sought after cards, highlighted by the appearance of future all-time great rookie Pete Rose (available elsewhere separately in this auction) can run into the thousands of dollars. The offered original packaging includes a sturdy decorative cardboard slipcase with bright blue-green-and-silver accents, the slightly cracked outer plastic slipcase and the (35) cards (average EX). Nine honorees signed their cards in blue ink average ("7-8") that comes with an auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Those signatories include: #15 Chance, #17 Lanier, #19 R. Allen, #21 Campaneris, #25 T. Conigliaro, #27 Oliva, #29 Brumley, #33 Bunker and #34 Tiant. Unsigned keys include: NNO header (VG), #4 Honorary Election Committee/Greenberg (EX), #5 Honorary Election Committee/J. Robinson (EX-MT), #6 Executive Director/Sy Berger (EX), #7 Topps Salutes Joe Garagiola (EX-MT), #8 1959 Rookie All-Star Team/McCovey (EX), #9 1960 Rookie All-Star Team/Santo (EX) and #10 1961 Rookie All-Star Team/B. Williams, Torre (EX). Opening Bid $500.