Among the more scarce and desirable cards of the 1950's, the Home Run Derby cards were a 20-card unnumbered set, produced by American Motors to help publicize their sponsored Home Run Derby television show. The show pitted two sluggers against one another in a home run hitting contest quite similar to the home run derby we see today during the All-Star break.  The set contains many of the day's superstar sluggers who were contenstants on the show, including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.  Though the cards were presumably handed out at car dealerships, we are aware of one anecdotal tale of the cards being distributed by a dry cleaner, stapled to customer receipts, perhaps accounting for many of the pinholes.  Regardless, the promotional cards are quite difficult to find, particularly in higher grades, as many are found with pinholes or staple holes. 

While all the cards from the set are valuable, the card of Mickey Mantle is orders of magnitude more so, as the key card in the set.  This example, graded EX 5 by PSA, is one of seven at this plateau, with just 11 higher of a total of 51 in their census.  The card is quite pleasing, with a clean, well-centered image and square corners that might qualify for EX-MT on a different day.  Still, a very difficult and desirable card, the key to this important issue.