1952 TOPPS Baseball Cards
In 1952, Topps came out with the largest baseball card set
of the time. There were a total of 407 cards to the set ( The Bowman 1951 set consisted of
324 cards and the Bowman 1952 card set numbered 252
). The Topps set was issued in two series. The first series were numbered 1-310 and the
second series were numbered 311-407. (Series and Prints)
Developed by Sy Berger, the Topps 1952 set was made up of the first "modern baseball card," complete with player image, team logo, vital statistics, and a full playing record. The cards measured 2 5/8 in. x 3 3/4 in. and featured colorized black and white photos of the players. Although Berk Ross came out with a 1952 Joe DiMaggio card, Joe announced his retirement prior to the start of production on the 1952 Topps cards, so he is not included in the 1952 set.
Rookies Mickey Mantle ( card #311 ) and Willie Mays ( card # 261 ) made their Topps debut in this 1952 set. A rookie who almost didn't make it was Braves slugging third baseman Ed Mathews. He has the distinction of being on the last card of the set ( card # 407). Because kids would rubber band their collection together, thus causing the first and last cards in the stack to be more suseptable to damage, the Mathews card and the #1 card ((Andy Pafko ) are a little more difficult to find in the better grades. Other rookies making their first appearance in this Topps set are, Pete Runnels ( card # 2 ), Billy Loes( card # 20), Orestes (Minnie) Minoso ( card # 195 ), Ralph Houk ( card # 200 ), Bob Friend ( card # 233 ) and Dick Groat ( card # 369 ). Other stars in the set include Phil Rizzuto ( card #11 ), Ted Kluszewsky (card # 29 ), Warren Spahn ( card # 33 ), Gil Hodges ( card # 36 ), Duke Snider ( card # 37 ), Robin Roberts (card # 59 ), Billy Martin ( card # 175 ), Yogi Berra ( card # 191 ), Richie Ashburn (card # 216 ), Jackie Robinson ( card # 312 ), Roy Campanella ( card # 314 ), Pee Wee Reese ( card # 333 ), Hoyt Wilhelm ( card # 392 ), Bill Dickey ( card # 400 ). Because of other contractural obligations, two of the biggest names in baseball are missing from the set,
Also missing from the set,
Ralph Kiner Satchel Paige Whitey Ford Carl Furillo
Nellie Fox Hal Newhouser Casey Stengel
In The Works: Marty "Slats" Marion
Rumor confirmed: Chuck Connors (The Rifleman) on a 1952 Topps style
baseball card.
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Is that Mantle card authentic, click here.
There are a few noticeable traits pertaining to the Topps 1952 baseball cards. Cards 1-80 can be found to have either Red Backs or Black Backs. The second series ( 311- 407 ) came out very late in the season and Topps had a hard time selling them. 1952 second series cards were even inserted into packs of 1953 Topps baseball cards sold in Canada. They still had so many left over that they chartered a boat and dumped thousands of these second series cards into the ocean. And yes, that included the Mantle cards. Because so many of the second series was destroyed, they now carry a premium as they are the scarcer of the two series. Manufacturing such a large set of cards didn't come without its share of mistakes. Besides the always present possibility of buying your pack of cards, opening them up, only to find only one or two out of the pack actually had the ballplayers picture reasonably centered on the card (uncut sheets), you also had the possibility to find a few cards that were double printed, or had different colored backgrounds. Joe Page ( card # 48 ) and Johnny Sain ( card # 49 ) each had the other players biography on the back of their early released cards. Just when you thought you had the whole set, the Frank Campos #307 card.
All in All, when it's all accounted for, errors, double prints, triple prints, late release dates, etc., the 1952 Topps Baseball card set is still the best set of baseball cards that were ever produced. A true American Classic. Take a look for yourself.
Click on 1952 Topps Wrapper
to start viewing the complete set of 1952 cards.
Click on Logo for Appraisal information.
