Set Registry 2021 Award Winners

Message from PSA:

Welcome to the 2021 PSA Set Registry Awards. As always, we are excited to announce this year’s winners in multiple categories, but for the second year running we are unable to recognize our commendable Set Registry members in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. We certainly hope that we’ll be able to acknowledge everyone’s outstanding efforts with an in-person 2022 Set Registry Awards ceremony at the next National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, NJ.

We are committed to providing a Set Registry experience that continues to evolve with changing markets and technologies. As a result, you will continue to see efforts to: improve inventory management features; enhance pricing data for your collection (such as the addition of APR); provide engaging new sets and ways for you to collect, compete and communicate with other members; and offer a world-class team of membership service professionals, who are collectors themselves, to help you with your collecting endeavors on the Set Registry.

As always, thank you for dedicating your time, resources, and passion to the PSA Set Registry. It is thanks to members like you, who make it a truly special community of the best and brightest collectors in the industry.

Jamie Kiskis
VP of Brand Development

The Hill Collection - Ty Cobb T206 Complete Back Variations Set - Best Set of the Year
Ty Cobb is one of the most legendary players in baseball history, and the fabled T206 set holds similar status within the trading card world. The T206 set includes four different Cobb poses and 16 different tobacco brand backs, some with multiple designs or designations, that result in 56 different cards of the Hall of Fame outfielder. This collection, which includes several cards with fewer than 10 known examples, was completed for the first time on the PSA Set Registry and likely in the entire hobby. It was assembled over the course of several years and carries a weighted GPA of 3.62. This Ty Cobb assembly stands as one of the most impressive hobby achievements in recent memory.

The Dbacks Collection (egkjr) - Top 20 Sportscards in the Hobby - Best Rookie Set of the Year
This year a hobby legend registered one of the most impressive sets that has ever been seen on the PSA Set Registry. The English language simply does not have adjectives to properly describe this collection, as any single card might be considered the centerpiece of many world class collections. Included is the T206 Honus Wagner in PSA 8, 1915/1916 Sporting News Babe Ruth in PSA 8, and 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, 1954 Topps Hank Aaron, 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle and 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan in PSA 10, while premier issues of Napoleon Lajoie, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Bronko Nagurksi and Willie Mays are all present in PSA 9 holders. In fact, this set of the Top 20 Sportscards in the Hobby Set carries a GPA of 8.51 and is awe-inspiring any way you look at it.

Baseball

Devin Harmon (pikepoke…I Did It!) - 1935 Goudey - Master - Best Pre-War Vintage Baseball Set of the Year (Pre-1948)
Most collectors are content to call their 1935 Goudey sets complete at 36 cards. However, a handful of dedicated completionists attempt to acquire all of the front/back combinations. It is a considerable challenge that boosts the checklist to 114 items. The biggest stars of the day are here, some of them several times over… Foxx, Ruth, Dean, Dickey, Lazzeri and many more. This particular listing is the nicest to ever grace the PSA Set Registry and has been a Best of Registry awardee since 2017. It is 100% complete and carries a GPA of 6.93.

Charles M. Merkel (olemiss) - 1954 Bowman - Master - Best Post-War Vintage Baseball Set of the Year (1948-1959)
(Note that this award also includes 1 sub-set in this collection.)
The 1954 Bowman Master Set requires collectors to assemble a classic midcentury baseball issue and find 40 additional variations that range from errors in statistical information to the fabled Ted Williams card #66 that was pulled from production and replaced by Jim Piersall. This particular set has been the category leader since 2013 and is the Registry’s All-Time Finest example. The incredible 9.18 GPA is almost a full point higher than current competitors, and nearly a full third of the cards in this set reside in PSA 10 holders. It is a masterful collection deserving of the highest honors.

Walt Bettinger (131313) - 1969 Topps with Wax Pack - Master - Best Vintage Baseball Set of the Year (1960-1969)
(Note that this award also includes 2 sub-sets in this collection.)
The 1969 Topps issue combines fantastic star power with a crisp, clean design to offer one of the greatest baseball card sets of the era. The master set with wax pack requires 33 more items than the base, a large percentage of which are difficult white letter variations. This entry has brought them all together in stunning condition and it is the category’s All-Time Finest entry with a 9.42 GPA. In fact, there are 333 cards in this collection that reside in PSA 10 holders. Topping off this award-winning assembly is a 51-year-old wax pack in PSA 9 condition. This is truly a set for the ages.

Kurt's '75 Topps - 1975 Topps - Best Modern Baseball Set of the Year (1970 to date)
The 1975 Topps issue is one of the most popular sets of the modern era, with more than 250 currently active sets on the Registry. Just one point separates the top 23 listings, illustrating the ferocity of the competition among collectors. This set tops them all with a 9.46 GPA. Somehow avoiding the chipped borders, centering issues and print defects that are prevalent with this issue, this sets boasts Hall of Fame rookie cards of Robin Yount (PSA 9), George Brett (PSA 10), Jim Rice (PSA 9) and Gary Carter (PSA 9). In fact, no card in this set is graded lower than a PSA 9; an incredible accomplishment for an issue that presents so many challenges to collectors.

Basketball

knicks4life - The Big Five - Best Vintage Basketball Set of the Year (Pre-1970)
Taking on The Big Five requires the completion of some of the most important sets in the basketball card genre; 1948 Bowman, 1957-58 Topps, 1961-62 Fleer, 1969-70 Topps and 1986-87 Fleer. This is the first listing on the PSA Set Registry to achieve 100% completion. It did so with an 8.43 GPA, assisted by dozens of Hall of Fame rookies such as George Mikan (PSA 7), Bill Russell (PSA 5), Jerry West (PSA 8), Wilt Chamberlain (PSA 8), Lew Alcindor (PSA 7) and Michael Jordan (PSA 9). This 449-card collection is truly representative of the best in NBA history.

Little Victories - 2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors - Best Modern Basketball Set of the Year (1970 to date)
The 2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractor set consists of 165 extremely condition-sensitive basketball cards. In addition to 110 base legends, there are 55 rookies that were issued at one-third the rate of veteran stars, including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. This entry is the only set to achieve 100% completion on the Set Registry, and it did not settle for mediocrity along the way. Only four cards short of being complete in all PSA 10, this set boasts a 9.98 GPA. Of the four PSA 9s, only one card can even be found in PSA 10, and there is only one example. With 164/165 cards being top pop examples, this set defines domination.

Football

Topknot44 '55 Bowman Football - 1955 Bowman - Best Vintage Football Set of the Year (Pre-1960)
The final Bowman football set of the 1950s is a hobby classic. At 160 cards, this issue is dense with star power and includes rookie cards of Pro Football Hall of Fame members and other gridiron legends such as Mike McCormack (PSA 9), Alan Ameche (PSA 9), Len Ford (PSA 9), John Henry Johnson (PSA 9), Pat Summerall (PSA 9), Jim Ringo (PSA 8.5), Bob St. Clair (PSA 9) and Frank Gatski (PSA 8). This set has been Best of the Registry since 2016 and boasts a GPA of 8.91 with numerous top pop examples. Nearly 80 collectors are tackling this set, but this entry has broken away from the competition.

Will Tudoroff (Sweet Willy T) - 1965 Topps CFL - Best Vintage Football Set of the Year (1960-1969)
The 132-card 1965 Topps CFL set is a colorful issue recognizing the storied gridiron league that plays north of our border. The multicolor pastel backgrounds and French & English text on card backs present an interesting design while the difficulty of procuring high-grade examples make it a challenge to the most dedicated hobbyist. This set assumed the top spot on the Registry in 2015 and has grown in quality over the years. Now with an 8.23 GPA it is the best of only two complete sets currently on the Registry and ranks more than a point above the second-place listing.

Steven Humanick (HUMANICK #1) - 1972 Topps - Best Modern Football Set of the Year (1970 to date)
The 1972 Topps football set has befuddled collectors for decades with a third series that was not distributed as widely as the first two. In fact, many early collectors believed the set complete at 263 cards rather than the actual 351. But that challenge was overcome here. Not only is this All-Time Finest set complete with a 9.81 GPA, but 279 of the cards assembled here reside in PSA 10 holders, with nothing in the set lower than PSA 9. This entry has been a category leader since 2017 and shows no signs of relinquishing the well-deserved title.

Hockey

rjmjr - O-Pee-Chee 1933-1941 - Best Pre-War Vintage Hockey Set of the Year (Pre-1948)
(Note that this award also includes 8 sub-sets in this collection.)
The 1933-1941 O-Pee-Chee run is an assembly of six individual sets that cover the Canadian company’s early years. The cards are rare and simply finding certain examples constitutes hobby success. In fact, only five collectors have ever attempted to assemble the collection on the PSA Set Registry, with just two surpassing 50% completion. This listing has blown away all prior attempts at this hobby challenge. It is not only the All-Time Finest set in its category, but also the only instance in which 100% completion has been obtained. This entry boasts a 6.95 GPA, which is nearly two full points higher than the next competitor.

Joey Yetman, St John’s (Newfoundland Growlers) - O-Pee-Chee 1960s Run - Best Vintage Hockey Set of the Year (1948-1969)
(Note that this award also includes 2 sub-sets in this collection.)
The O-Pee-Chee 1960s Run is a compilation of two sets the company produced late in the decade under their own name, 1968-1969 and 1969-1970. There are 447 cards needed to complete the collection, and competition is fierce. Our award-winning set is the category’s All-Time Finest with a 9.71 GPA and has been Best of Registry since 2019. One of the things that makes this collection so impressive is that 65% of the cards (290/447) are top pop examples, while an additional 17% have only a single example graded higher. This set has truly been assembled with the best of the best.

Dana Mair (Collecting in South Van) - 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee - Master - Best Modern Hockey Set of the Year (1970 to date)
(Note that this award also includes 1 sub-set in this collection.)
O-Pee-Chee expanded its hockey release in 1970-71 to include 264 cards, but variations increase the size of the master set to 280 items. The expansion Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks make their inaugural trading card appearances in this set, as do rookies Wayne Cashman, Bobby Clarke, Brad Park, Guy Lapointe, Gilbert Perreault, and Darryl Sittler. This Registry entry is the first of its kind to reach the 100% completion mark and has maintained the category lead since 2017. Its 9.40 GPA is more than one-half point higher than the second-place entry.

Miscellaneous Sports

Olsonarch - 1926 Lambert & Butler Who is Who in Sports - Best Vintage Misc Sports Set of the Year (Pre-1970)
This 50-card tobacco set features contemporary British and American athletes in the areas of boxing, golf, cricket, cycling, rowing, soccer, speed skating, swimming, and track and field. Legendary golfer, Bobby Jones, makes his trading card debut in this issue and a PSA 6 example is found in this listing. This particular set has been the Set Registry leader since 2011 and is the All-Time Finest for its category. It currently boasts a 7.68 GPA and contains the top pop examples in the hobby for more than half the set.

Ron Gates (Gator1) - 2001 SP Authentic Golf - Best Modern Misc Sports Set of the Year (1970 to date)
The 2001 SP Authentic Golf set is an iconic hobby issue due in part to its inclusion of the Tiger Woods, David Duval and Sergio Garcia rookie cards. The Woods is hotly chased regardless of condition. In addition to 44 base cards, there are Fairway Greats, Major Players and Ambassadors of Golf base subsets that bring the total checklist to 136 cards. This entry is the first on the PSA Set Registry to reach 100% completion. It has been the category leader since 2018 and is the All-Time Finest entry with a 9.41 GPA. Currently 104 of the cards in this set are the highest-graded examples in the hobby.

Howard Sher (Sher60) - Gordie Howe Master Set - Best Vintage Player Set of the Year (Pre-1970)
(Note that this award also includes 2 sub-sets in this collection.)
Gordie Howe is one of the most celebrated hockey players in history and as such has a great following in the hobby. The Gordie Howe Master Set consists of 122 cards ranging in date from 1951-1980 and includes mass-produced and regional issues. Twenty-two hobbyists are attempting to build this set, but this eight-time Best of Registry awardee is the only collection that has achieved 100% completion. It has a GPA of 8.04 and contains a jaw-dropping 93 top pop entries. Beginning with a PSA 7 1951 Parkhurst rookie card, there is no finer cardboard tribute to “Mr. Hockey” in existence.

Greg Clemons (PSAbolts) - Junior Seau Master Set - Best Modern Player Set of the Year (1970 to date)
(Note that this award also includes 1 sub-set in this collection.)
For 20 years Junior Seau was one of the greatest defensive players in the history of professional football. He played the bulk of his career for the San Diego Chargers, but later brought his talents and leadership to the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. The Junior Seau Master Set could be misconstrued as a “monster set,” as there are 1,047 cards on this checklist and only one hobbyist has ever completed the task. From 1990 Action Packed to 2008 Playoff National Treasure All-Pros Material Trios, this entry has it all with an 8.93 GPA. It is a stunning tribute to the legendary linebacker.

Josh Alpert (Tarjetas Imposibles '59) - 1959 Venezuelan Topps - Best Topps Specialty Set of the Year
Since 2011, the Tarjetas Imposibles ’59 set has been Best of Registry in the 1959 Topps Venezuelan category. Produced for and distributed in a South American country, these cards are difficult to obtain and are typically found in poor condition. However, this collector has an unsurpassed dedication of the Venezuelan issues and has assembled the greatest set the PSA Set Registry has ever seen. It is 100% complete and boasts a GPA of 5.29. In fact, the same hobbyist also owns the #2 set, which is over 95% complete. This collection is a testament to the wonder and diversity of our hobby.

The Dbacks Collection (egkjr) - Top 20 Sportscards in the Hobby - Best Overall Specialty Set of the Year
Could there be a set more special than the Top 20 Sportscards in the Hobby? The checklist includes the best of the best – Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bronko Nagurski, Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb. Rookie cards of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Satchel Paige, George Mikan and Michael Jordan are needed, and a handful of legendary singles round out the set. With an 8.51 GPA, this listing is the All-Time Finest by more than 1.5 points. It consists of the highest graded examples of cards that most collectors never set eyes upon, let alone own. Simply put, it is one of the greatest hobby achievements of all-time.

John's '57 Spic and Spans - 1957 Spic and Span Braves - Best Regional Set of the Year
This attractive regional set features 20 members of the World Series Champion 1957 Milwaukee Braves in a 4”x5”, black and white format. Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Red Schoendienst and Warren Spahn highlight the issue, while Wes Covington, Felix Mantilla, Schoendienst and Bob Trowbridge are short-prints and provide considerable challenge. This particular collection is the best ever seen on the PSA Set Registry and has been the category leader since 2010. Eighteen of the 20 cards in the checklist are top pop examples, including Aaron in PSA 8.5, and Mathews and Spahn in PSA 8.

Gus' Grands - 1968 Topps Milton Bradley - Best Oddball Set of the Year
The 1968 Milton Bradley baseball cards often pass by unnoticed as only slight differences separate them from their base Topps counterparts. However, knowledgeable collectors know that these 77-cards were released as part of a child’s board game rather than in bubble gum packs. Several Hall of Famers are included, though the alternative Nolan Ryan rookie card, a PSA 8 example in this case, is the best of the bunch. With an 8.58 GPA, this set has been a category leader since 2015. However, the top three sets in the category are all owned by the same collector, illustrating an unwavering dedication to the nuances of this fascinating issue.

Kenrich Co. - 1970-1979 Wax Packs - Basic - Best Unopened Pack Set of the Year
For children of the ‘70s, the 1970-1979 Wax Packs – Basic set is a wonderful stroll down memory lane. All of the wonderfully obscure non-sports packs are here, from 1971 Topps Partridge Family to 1976 Donruss Skateboard Stickers, 1974 Fleer Kustom Cars to 1979 O-Pee-Chee Moonraker and everything in-between. With a full checklist and being the only listing with more than 10% completion, this set is a wonderful tribute to the joy that trading cards add to childhood. Packs of all sorts were not only located but obtained in beautiful condition. This set boasts an 8.18 GPA and includes 85 of 119 top pop entries.

Non-Sports

PSUinCT - 1888 Allen & Ginter Great Generals (N15) - Best 19th Century Non-Sports Set of the Year (Pre-1900)
This 1888 Allen & Ginter set offers beautiful artistic presentations of famous generals from pre-1900 history. Names such as Caesar, Custer, Hannibal, Napoleon and Stonewall Jackson are featured in artwork by Harris and Sons. The top collection in this category is also the Set Registry’s All-Time Finest and has been the category leader since 2011. It boasts a weighted GPA of 6.11, meaning these cards have experienced very little damage since their initial insertion into cigarette packs more than 130 years ago. The owner of this set also holds the registry’s #3 listing for this issue.

Brian Karl (Brian's 1938…) - 1938 Gum Inc. Horrors of War - Best Pre-War Vintage Non-Sports Set of the Year (1900-1947)
Vintage non-sports cards sometimes dealt with subjects in a manner that might be considered excessive or too violent today, but as such are wonderful glimpses into sociology and history. The 1938 Gum Inc. Horrors of War set is one such example. One of the most popular and competitive of the vintage non-sports sets, this collection was assembled with an eye towards the highest quality. Complete at 288 cards, this set boasts an 8.04 GPA and has been a Best of Registry winner nine times. That is quite an accomplishment for a set with more than 25 active competitors vying for the top spot.

Frank Evanov - 1956 Topps Davy Crockett Green - Best Vintage Non-Sports Set of the Year (1948-1959)
Some 120 years after his death and inspired by a Disney production of his life, Topps issued two series of Crockett cards in 1956, one with orange backs and another with green. Both Registry categories have been dominated by the same collector, though this award recognizes the green set. Like Crockett himself, this set has courageously blazed new trails and fought off all challengers to be named Best of Registry 14 times. Painstakingly assembled, the set currently has an 8.29 GPA, more than half a point higher than any other.

David Pickhardt (Dannyboyz Horror Monsters) - 1961 Nu-Cards Horror Monsters - Best Vintage Non-Sports Set of the Year (1960-1969)
The 1961 Nu-Cards Horror Monsters set is a delightfully spooky look at the monsters, ghouls and ghosts that have graced Hollywood’s silver screen. This 147-card set was assembled with an 8.20 GPA and is the All-Time Finest listing for the category. It has also been a Best of Registry winner since 2014. As if that were not evidence enough of one collector’s dedication to this cast of creepy critters, our hobbyist also holds the second-finest set on the Registry. King Kong, The Mummy and The Werewolf of London never looked so scary good!

The Action Center - 2016 Pokemon XY Evolutions Holofoils - Best Modern Non-Sports Set of the Year (1970 to date)
Featuring both original cards and reprints of classic 1999 base cards, 2016 Pokemon XY Evolutions is a celebration of the past, present, and future of Pokémon. This set packs a nostalgic punch in the form of its many undeniably iconic holofoil reprints, including Charizard, Gyarados, Raichu, Machamp, and others. This particular collection is the only one in the Set Registry that has achieved 100% completion and boasts an impressive 9.76 GPA. It also features all 9 Full Art cards, including the highly popular M Charizard EX, each graded a perfect PSA 10.

Tickets

Michael Horne (vintagetickets) - PSA's Top 10 World Series Tickets of All Time - Best Ticket Set of the Year
As baseball’s greatest showcase, all World Series games are special. However, the circumstance of certain games lifts them to a level above all others. Be it Babe Ruth’s Called Shot in 1932 or Kirk Gibson’s dramatic 1988 home run, these tickets represent moments etched deeply into the folklore of the American Pastime. This collection, which has been the category leader since 2018, has been painstakingly assembled with full tickets only, not a stub in the group. As such it carries top pop bonuses that lift the weighted GPA to an astonishing 20.60.

Autographs

Jim Doyle (Doyle Collection) - MLB 1947-Present Rookie of the Year Award Winners (Any Medium) - Best PSA/DNA Autograph Set of the Year
The Rookie of the Year is an exciting award that recognizes not only youthful excellence, but also the hope of future accomplishment. However, a look through history reveals baseball legends, one-year-wonders and everything in between. This fascinating collection recalls all 148 award winners to-date and grows a bit each year. It was the first in Set Registry history to surpass the 50% mark and now sits at 100% completion with a 9.70 weighted GPA. Jackie Robinson sits at the top and watches over this celebration of great young players throughout history and the legendary award that now bears his name.

Best of the Registry Winners of 2021

Sets in the following categories that were #1 on 5/28/21 5pm EST (2pm PST) have been recognized as "Best of the Registry." They meet one of the following requirements:

• 95% complete for vintage sets pre-1970
• 100% complete for modern sets (1970-present)
• 1,000 or more cards registered in player and mega sets

Baseball
Basketball
Football
Hockey
Packs
Misc Sports
Non-Sports
Tickets
Autographs

10 Year Anniversary Recipients

To celebrate collectors who have won awards for being number one in their category for at least ten years in a row, we recognize their sets with the 10 Year Anniversary icon. To these collectors, you have our thanks for your loyalty and friendship. We appreciate all you do for the PSA Set Registry. To view a list of these award winning sets, please click here.