1952 Topps

Description

1952 Topps is Topps' first truly major set, and arguably the first truly significant card sent of the post-WWII era. It consists of 407 cards and all cards measure 2 5/8" X 3 3/4".

The set was issued in six series. The first series of 80 cards were issued with red or black backs, both of which are less plentiful than Series Two cards (81 to 250). In fact, the first series is considered the most difficult with respect to finding perfect condition cards. Card number 48 (Joe Page) and number 49 (Johnny Sain) can be found with each other's write-up on their back. The black backs sometimes sell for a small premium versus the red backs.

Card #1 Andy Pafko carries a significant premium and very condition sensitive. PSA has graded over 1,000; the highest grade is 8 NM-MT, which three cards have received this grade. One of these PSA 8 Pafko's sold for $95k in 2007.

Most dealers today believe that all cards from the first four series (1-250) were produced in the same quantities.

Series Three (131-190) are printed on White Stock. Gray backs exist and are rare. It was once believed the gray 3rd series cards were from Canada, but there is no proof to support that theory. Series Five cards (251-310) are somewhat scarce and the "Hi-Numbers" (a.k.a. Series Six) 311 to 407 are quite scarce. Cards 281-300 were single printed compared to the other cards in the next to last series (except 289 - Tommy Holmes, 295 - Phil Cavarretta and 296 - Red Rolfe). Cards 311-313 were double printed on the last high number printing sheet. The key card in the set is Mickey Mantle, number 311, which was Mickey's first of many Topps cards -- but it is NOT considered his "rookie" card.

A minor variation on cards from 311 through 313 is that they exist with the stitching on the number circle in the back pointing right or left. There seems to be no print run difference between the two versions. Card number 307, Frank Campos, can be found in a scarce version with with one red star and one black star next to the words "Topps Baseball" on the back.

In the early 1980's, Topps issued a standard-size reprint set of the 52 Topps set. These cards were issued only as a factory set. Five people portrayed in the regular set: Billy Loes (number 20), Dom DiMaggio (number 22), Saul Rogovin (number 159), Solly Hemus (number 196) and Tommy Holmes (number 289) are not in the reprint set. Although rarely seen, salesman sample panels of three cards containing the fronts of regular cards with ad information on the back do exist.

Distribution

One card wax packs (MSRP: $0.01)

Six card wax packs (MSRP: $0.05)

How to spot a fake

https://allvintagecards.com/how-to-spot-fake-1952-topps-mantle/

Checklist

Base Set

Series One

• 1 Andy Pafko
• 2 Pete Runnels RC
• 3 Hank Thompson
• 4 Don Lenhardt
• 5 Larry Jansen
• 6 Grady Hatton
• 7 Wayne Terwilliger UER: Born in '25, not '26
• 8 Fred Marsh RC
• 9 Robert Hogue RC UER: Born in '21, not '22
• 10 Al Rosen UER: Born 2/29/24, not 3/1/25
• 11 Phil Rizzuto
• 12 Monty Basgall RC
• 13 Johnny Wyrostek
• 14 Bob Elliott
• 15 Johnny Pesky
• 16 Gene Hermanski
• 17 Jim Hegan
• 18 Merrill Combs RC
• 19 Johnny Bucha RC
• 20 Billy Loes RC
• 21 Ferris Fain
• 22 Dom DiMaggio
• 23 Billy Goodman
• 24 Luke Easter
• 25 Johnny Groth
• 26 Monte Irvin
• 27 Sam Jethroe
• 28 Jerry Priddy
• 29 Ted Kluszewski
• 30 Mel Parnell
• 31 Gus Zernial
• 32 Eddie Robinson
• 33 Warren Spahn
• 34 Elmer Valo
• 35 Hank Sauer
• 36 Gil Hodges
• 37 Duke Snider
• 38 Wally Westlake
• 39 Dizzy Trout
• 40 Irv Noren
• 41 Bob Wellman RC
• 42 Lou Kretlow RC
• 43 Ray Scarborough
• 44 Con Dempsey RC
• 45 Eddie Joost
• 46 Gordon Goldsberry RC
• 47 Willie Jones
• 48 Joe Page
• 49 John Sain
• 50 Marv Rickert RC
• 51 Jim Russell
• 52 Don Mueller
• 53 Chris Van Cuyk RC
• 54 Leo Kiely
• 55 Ray Boone
• 56 Tommy Glaviano
• 57 Ed Lopat
• 58 Bob Mahoney RC
• 59 Robin Roberts
• 60 Sid Hudson
• 61 Tookie Gilbert
• 62 Chuck Stobbs RC
• 63 Howie Pollet
• 64 Roy Sievers
• 65 Enos Slaughter
• 66 Preacher Roe
• 67 Allie Reynolds
• 68 Cliff Chambers
• 69 Virgil Stallcup
• 70 Al Zarilla
• 71 Tom Upton RC
• 72 Karl Olson RC
• 73 Bill Werle
• 74 Andy Hansen RC
• 75 Wes Westrum
• 76 Eddie Stanky
• 77 Bob Kennedy
• 78 Ellis Kinder
• 79 Gerry Staley UER: Born in '20, not '21
• 80 Herman Wehmeier

Series Two

• 81 Vern Law
• 82 Duane Pillette
• 83 Billy Johnson
• 84 Vern Stephens
• 85 Bob Kuzava
• 86 Ted Gray
• 87 Dale Coogan
• 88 Bob Feller
• 89 John Lipon
• 90 Mickey Grasso
• 91 Red Schoendienst
• 92 Dale Mitchell
• 93 Al Sima RC
• 94 Sam Mele
• 95 Ken Holcombe
• 96 Willard Marshall
• 97 Earl Torgeson
• 98 Billy Pierce
• 99 Gene Woodling
• 100 Del Rice
• 101 Max Lanier
• 102 Bill Kennedy
• 103 Cliff Mapes
• 104 Don Kolloway
• 105 Johnny Pramesa
• 106 Mickey Vernon
• 107 Connie Ryan
• 108 Jim Konstanty
• 109 Ted Wilks
• 110 Dutch Leonard UER: Bron in '09, not '10
• 111 Harry Lowrey
• 112 Hank Majeski
• 113 Dick Sisler
• 114 Willard Ramsdell UER: Born in '16, not '18
• 115 George Munger
• 116 Carl Scheib
• 117 Sherm Lollar
• 118 Ken Raffensberger
• 119 Mickey McDermott
• 120 Bob Chakales RC
• 121 Gus Niarhos
• 122 Jackie Jensen
• 123 Eddie Yost
• 124 Monte Kennedy
• 125 Bill Rigney
• 126 Fred Hutchinson
• 127 Paul Minner RC
• 128 Don Bollweg RC
• 129 Johnny Mize
• 130 Sheldon Jones

Series Three

• 131 Morrie Martin RC
• 132 Clyde Kluttz RC
• 133 Al Widmar
• 134 Joe Tipton
• 135 Dixie Howell
• 136 Johnny Schmitz
• 137 Roy McMillan RC
• 138 Bill MacDonald
• 139 Ken Wood
• 140 Johnny Antonelli
• 141 Clint Hartung
• 142 Harry Perkowski RC
• 143 Les Moss
• 144 Ed Blake RC
• 145 Joe Haynes
• 146 Frank House
• 147 Bob Young RC
• 148 Johnny Klippstein
• 149 Dick Kryhoski
• 150 Ted Beard
• 151 Wally Post RC
• 152 Al Evans
• 153 Bob Rush
• 154 Joe Muir RC
• 155 Frank Overmire
• 156 Frank Hiller RC
• 157 Bob Usher
• 158 Eddie Waitkus
• 159 Saul Rogovin RC
• 160 Owen Friend
• 161 Bud Byerly
• 162 Del Crandall
• 163 Stan Rojek
• 164 Walt Dubiel
• 165 Eddie Kazak
• 166 Paul LaPalme RC
• 167 Bill Howerton
• 168 Charlie Silvera RC
• 169 Howie Judson
• 170 Gus Bell
• 171 Ed Erautt RC
• 172 Eddie Miksis
• 173 Roy Smalley UER: Played 3 season in the minors, not 5
• 174 Clarence Marshall RC
• 175 Billy Martin RC
• 176 Hank Edwards
• 177 Bill Wight
• 178 Cass Michaels
• 179 Frank Smith RC
• 180 Charlie Maxwell RC
• 181 Bob Swift
• 182 Billy Hitchcock
• 183 Erv Dusak
• 184 Bob Ramazzotti
• 185 Bill Nicholson
• 186 Walt Masterson
• 187 Bob Miller
• 188 Clarence Podbielan RC
• 189 Pete Reiser
• 190 Don Johnson RC

Series Four

• 191 Yogi Berra
• 192 Myron Ginsberg RC
• 193 Harry Simpson RC
• 194 Joe Hatton
• 195 Minnie Minoso RC UER: Born in '25, not '23
• 196 Solly Hemus RC
• 197 George Strickland RC
• 198 Phil Haugstad RC
• 199 George Zuverink RC
• 200 Ralph Houk RC
• 201 Alex Kellner
• 202 Joe Collins RC
• 203 Curt Simmons
• 204 Ron Northey
• 205 Clyde King
• 206 Joe Ostrowski RC
• 207 Mickey Harris
• 208 Marlin Stuart RC
• 209 Howie Fox
• 210 Dick Fowler
• 211 Ray Coleman
• 212 Ned Garver
• 213 Nippy Jones
• 214 Johnny Hopp
• 215 Hank Bauer
• 216 Richie Ashburn
• 217 Snuffy Stirnweiss
• 218 Clyde McCullough
• 219 Bobby Shantz
• 220 Joe Presko RC
• 221 Granny Hamner
• 222 Hoot Evers
• 223 Del Ennis
• 224 Bruce Edwards
• 225 Frank Baumholtz UER: Born in '18, not '19
• 226 Dave Philley
• 227 Joe Garagiola
• 228 Al Brazle
• 229 Gene Bearden UER: Name mispelled "Beardon"
• 230 Matt Batts
• 231 Sam Zoldak
• 232 Billy Cox
• 233 Bob Friend RC
• 234 Steve Souchock RC
• 235 Walt Dropo
• 236 Ed Fitzgerald UER: Name mispelled "Fitz Gerald")
• 237 Jerry Coleman
• 238 Art Houtteman
• 239 Rocky Bridges RC
• 240 Jack Phillips RC
• 241 Tommy Byrne
• 242 Tom Poholsky RC
• 243 Larry Doby
• 244 Vic Wertz
• 245 Sherry Robertson
• 246 George Kell
• 247 Randy Gumpert
• 248 Frank Shea
• 249 Bobby Adams
• 250 Carl Erskine

Series Five

• 251 Chico Carrasquel
• 252 Vern Bickford
• 253 John Berardino
• 254 Joe Dobson
• 255 Clyde Vollmer
• 256 Pete Suder
• 257 Bobby Avila UER: Height listed as "Born"
• 258 Steve Gromek
• 259 Bob Addis RC
• 260 Pete Castiglione
• 261 Willie Mays
• 262 Virgil Trucks
• 263 Harry Brecheen
• 264 Roy Hartsfield
• 265 Chuck Diering
• 266 Murry Dickson
• 267 Sid Gordon
• 268 Bob Lemon
• 269 Willard Nixon
• 270 Lou Brissie
• 271 Jim Delsing
• 272 Mike Garcia
• 273 Erv Palica
• 274 Ralph Branca
• 275 Pat Mullin
• 276 Jim Wilson RC
• 277 Early Wynn
• 278 Allie Clark
• 279 Eddie Stewart
• 280 Cloyd Boyer
• 281 Tommy Brown SP
• 282 Birdie Tebbetts SP
• 283 Phil Masi SP
• 284 Hank Arft SP
• 285 Cliff Fannin SP
• 286 Joe DeMaestri SP RC
• 287 Steve Bilko SP
• 288 Chet Nichols SP
• 289 Tommy Holmes MGR
• 290 Joe Astroth SP
• 291 Gil Coan SP
• 292 Floyd Baker SP
• 293 Sibby Sisti SP
• 294 Walker Cooper SP
• 295 Phil Cavarretta MGR
• 296 Red Rolfe MGR
• 297 Andy Seminick SP
• 298 Bob Ross SP RC
• 299 Ray Murray SP RC
• 300 Barney McCosky SP
• 301 Bob Porterfield
• 302 Max Surkont RC
• 303 Harry Dorish
• 304 Sam Dente
• 305 Paul Richards MGR
• 306 Lou Sleater RC
• 307 Frank Campos RC
• 307 Frank Campos RC VAR: Black Star on Back
• 308 Luis Aloma
• 309 Jim Busby
• 310 George Metkovich

Series Six

• 311 Mickey Mantle
• 312 Jackie Robinson
• 313 Bobby Thomson
• 314 Roy Campanella UER: "Leaguge" mispelled
• 315 Leo Durocher MGR
• 316 Dave Williams RC UER: Born in '27, not '28
• 317 Conrado Marrero
• 318 Harold Gregg RC
• 319 Rube Walker RC
• 320 John Rutherford RC
• 321 Joe Black RC
• 322 Randy Jackson RC
• 323 Bubba Church
• 324 Warren Hacker
• 325 Bill Serena
• 326 George Shuba RC
• 327 Al Wilson RC
• 328 Bob Borkowski RC
• 329 Ike Delock RC
• 330 Turk Lown RC
• 331 Tom Morgan RC
• 332 Tony Bartirome RC
• 333 Pee Wee Reese
• 334 Wilmer Mizell RC
• 335 Ted Lepcio RC
• 336 Dave Koslo
• 337 Jim Hearn
• 338 Sal Yvars RC
• 339 Russ Meyer
• 340 Bob Hooper
• 341 Hal Jeffcoat
• 342 Clem Labine RC
• 343 Dick Gernert RC
• 344 Ewell Blackwell
• 345 Sammy White RC
• 346 George Spencer RC
• 347 Joe Adcock
• 348 Robert Kelly RC
• 349 Bob Cain
• 350 Cal Abrams
• 351 Alvin Dark UER: Born in '22, not '23
• 352 Karl Drews
• 353 Bobby Del Greco RC
• 354 Fred Hatfield RC
• 355 Bobby Morgan
• 356 Toby Atwell RC
• 357 Smoky Burgess
• 358 John Kucab RC
• 359 Dee Fondy RC
• 360 George Crowe RC UER: Born in '21, not '23
• 361 William Posedel CO
• 362 Ken Heintzelman
• 363 Dick Rozek RC
• 364 Clyde Sukeforth CO
• 365 Cookie Lavagetto CO
• 366 Dave Madison RC
• 367 Ben Thorpe RC
• 368 Ed Wright RC
• 369 Dick Groat RC
• 370 Billy Hoeft RC
• 371 Bobby Hofman
• 372 Gil McDougald RC
• 373 Jim Turner CO
• 374 Al Benton RC
• 375 John Merson RC
• 376 Faye Throneberry RC
• 377 Chuck Dressen MGR
• 378 Leroy Fusselman RC
• 379 Joe Rossi RC
• 380 Clem Koshorek RC
• 381 Milton Stock CO
• 382 Sam Jones RC
• 383 Del Wilber RC
• 384 Frank Crosetti CO
• 385 Herman Franks CO
• 386 Ed Yuhas RC
• 387 Billy Meyer MGR
• 388 Bob Chipman
• 389 Ben Wade RC
• 390 Rocky Nelson RC
• 391 Ben Chapman CO UER: Sam Chapman depicted
• 392 Hoyt Wilhelm RC UER: Born in '22, not '23
• 393 Ebba St. Claire RC
• 394 Billy Herman CO
• 395 Jake Pitler CO
• 396 Dick Williams RC
• 397 Forrest Main RC
• 398 Hal Rice
• 399 Jim Fridley RC
• 400 Bill Dickey CO
• 401 Bob Schultz RC
• 402 Earl Harrist RC UER: Bron in '19, not '20
• 403 Bill Miller RC
• 404 Dick Brodowski RC
• 405 Eddie Pellagrini
• 406 Joe Nuxhall RC
• 407 Eddie Mathews RC

Variations

All 80 cards in Series One are available in "Red Back" and "Black Back" variations. Each is valued equally.

In order to fill out the 100-card Series Six sheet, Topps double printed the first three cards in the series (#311-313) -- which just happened to be the most popular players from the three New York teams: Mickey Mantle (#311), Jackie Robinson (#312), and Bobby Thompson (#313). These three cards have a variation where the stitches on the baseball on the reverse side (where the card number is located) are "pointing" to the right.

Topps (flagship)
Topps (flagship) Classic Era: 1951 - 1952 - 1953 - 1954 - 1955
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