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/

Insertion Ratios

Cards	Total Cards	Numbered To	Hobby Odds	Retail Odds
Base	407	-	-	-

Checklist

Base Set

Series One

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

1 Andy Pafko

2 Pete Runnels RC

3 Hank Thompson

4 Don Lenhardt

5 Larry Jansen

6 Grady Hatton

7 Wayne Terwilliger

8 Fred Marsh

9 Robert Hogue

10 Al Rosen

11 Phil Rizzuto

12 Monty Basgall

13 Johnny Wyrostek

14 Bob Elliott

15 Johnny Pesky

16 Gene Hermanski

17 Jim Hegan

18 Merrill Combs

19 Johnny Bucha

20 Billy Loes RC SP

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 Kluszewsk

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

42 Lou Kretlow

43 Ray Scarborough

44 Con Dempsey

45 Eddie Joost

46 Gordon Goldsberry

47 Willie Jones

48 Joe Page (COR)

49 Johnny Sain (COR)

50 Marv Rickert

51 Jim Russell

52 Don Mueller

53 Chris Van Cuyk

54 Leo Kiely

55 Ray Boone

56 Tommy Glaviano

57 Ed Lopat

58 Bob Mahoney

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

72 Karl Olson

73 Bill Werle

74 Andy Hansen

75 Wes Westrum

76 Eddie Stanky

77 Bob Kennedy

78 Ellis Kinder

79 Gerry Staley

80 Herman Wehmeier

Series Two

NOTE: Cards 131-190 are printed on both white and dark cardstock.

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 Johnny Lipon

90 Mickey Grasso

91 Red Schoendienst

92 Dale Mitchell

93 Al Sima

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

111 Peanuts Lowrey

112 Hank Majeski

113 Dick Sisler

114 Willard Ramsdel

115 Red Munger

116 Carl Scheib

117 Sherm Lollar

118 Ken Raffensberger

119 Mickey McDermott

120 Bob Chakales

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

129 Johnny Mize

130 Sheldon Jones

131 Morrie Martin

132 Clyde Kluttz

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

143 Les Moss

144 Ed Blake

145 Joe Haynes

146 Frank House

147 Bob Young

148 Johnny Klippstein

149 Dick Kryhoski

150 Ted Beard

151 Wally Post RC

152 Al Evans

153 Bob Rush

154 Joe Muir

155 Frank Overmire

156 Frank Hiller

157 Bob Usher

158 Eddie Waitkus

159 Saul Rogovin

160 Owen Friend

161 Bud Byerly

162 Del Crandall

163 Stan Rojek

164 Walt Dubiel

165 Eddie Kazak

166 Paul LaPalme

167 Bill Howerton

168 Charlie Silvera RC

169 Howie Judson

170 Gus Bell

171 Ed Erautt

172 Eddie Miksis

173 Roy Smalley

174 Clarence Marshall

175 Billy Martin RC

176 Hank Edwards

177 Bill Wight

178 Cass Michaels

179 Frank Smith

180 Charlie Maxwell RC

181 Bob Swift

182 Billy Hitchcock

183 Billy Hitchcock

184 Bob Ramazzotti

185 Bill Nicholson

186 Walt Masterson

187 Bob Miller

188 Clarence Podbielan RC

189 Pete Reiser

190 Don Johnson

191 Yogi Berra

192 Myron Ginsberg

193 Harry Simpson

194 Joe Hatton

195 Minnie Minoso RC

196 Solly Hemus RC

197 George Strickland

198 Phil Haugstad

199 George Zuverink

200 Ralph Houk RC

201 Alex Kellner

202 Joe Collins RC

203 Curt Simmons

204 Ron Northey

205 Clyde King

206 Joe Ostrowski

207 Mickey Harris

208 Marlin Stuart

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

221 Granny Hamner

222 Hoot Evers

223 Del Ennis

224 Bruce Edwards

225 Frank Baumholtz

226 Dave Philley

227 Joe Garagiola

228 Al Brazle

229 Gene Bearden UER

230 Matt Batts

231 Sam Zoldak

232 Billy Cox

233 Bob Friend RC

234 Steve Souchock

235 Walt Dropo

236 Ed Fitzgerald

237 Jerry Coleman

238 Art Houtteman

239 Rocky Bridges

240 Jack Phillips

241 Tommy Byrne

242 Tom Poholsky

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 Three

251 Chico Carrasquel

252 Vern Bickford

253 John Berardino

254 Joe Dobson

255 Clyde Vollmer

256 Pete Suder

257 Bobby Avila

258 Steve Grome

259 Bob Addis

260 Pete Castiglione

261 Willie Mays FTC

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

277 Early Wynn

278 Allie Clark

279 Eddie Stewart

280 Cloyd Boyer

Series Four

281 Tommy Brown SP

282 Birdie Tebbetts SP

283 Phil Masi SP

284 Hank Arft SP

285 Cliff Fannin SP

286 Joe DeMaestri SP

287 Steve Bilko SP

288 Chet Nichols SP

289 Tommy Holmes MG

290 Joe Astroth SP

291 Gil Coan SP

292 Floyd Baker SP

293 Sibby Sisti SP

294 Walker Cooper SP

295 Phil Cavarretta

296 Red Rolfe MG

297 Andy Seminick SP

298 Bob Ross SP

299 Ray Murray SP

300 Barney McCosky SP

Series Five

301 Bob Porterfield

302 Max Surkont

303 Harry Dorish

304 Sam Dente

305 Paul Richards MG

306 Lou Sleater

307 Frank Campos

308 Luis Aloma

309 Jim Busby

310 George Metkovich

Series Six

311 Mickey Mantle DP

312 Jackie Robinson DP

313 Bobby Thomson DP

314 Roy Campanella

315 Leo Durocher MG

316 Dave Williams RC

317 Conrado Marrero FTC

318 Harold Gregg

319 Al Walker

320 John Rutherford RC

321 Joe Black RC

322 Randy Jackson

323 Bubba Church

324 Warren Hacker

325 Bill Serena

326 George Shuba RC

327 Al Wilson

328 Bob Borkowski

329 Ike Delock

330 Turk Lown

331 Tom Morgan

332 Anthony Bartirome

333 Pee Wee Reese

334 Wilmer Mizell RC

335 Ted Lepcio

336 Dave Koslo

337 Jim Hearn

338 Sal Yvars

339 Russ Meyer

340 Bob Hooper

341 Hal Jeffcoat

342 Clem Labine RC

343 Dick Gernert

344 Ewell Blackwell

345 Sammy White

346 George Spencer

347 Joe Adcock

348 Robert Kelly

349 Bob Cain

350 Cal Abrams

351 Alvin Dark

352 Karl Drews

353 Bobby Del Greco

354 Fred Hatfield

355 Bobby Morgan

356 Toby Atwell

357 Smoky Burgess

358 John Kucab

359 Dee Fondy

360 George Crowe RC

361 William Posedel CO

362 Ken Heintzelman

363 Dick Rozek

364 Clyde Sukeforth CO

365 Cookie Lavagetto CO

366 Dave Madison

367 Ben Thorpe

368 Ed Wright

369 Dick Groat RC

370 Billy Hoeft RC

371 Bobby Hofman

372 Gil McDougald RC

373 Jim Turner RC CO

374 John Benton

375 John Merson

376 Faye Throneberry

377 Chuck Dressen MG

378 Leroy Fusselman

379 Joe Rossi

380 Clem Koshorek

381 Milton Stock C

382 Sam Jones RC

383 Del Wilber

384 Frank Crosetti CO

385 Herman Franks CO RC

386 John Yuhas

387 Billy Meyer MG

388 Bob Chipman

389 Ben Wade

390 Glenn Nelson

391 Ben Chapman UER CO

392 Hoyt Wilhelm RC

393 Ebba St.Claire

394 Billy Herman CO

395 Jake Pitler CO

396 Dick Williams RC

397 Forrest Main

398 Hal Rice

399 Jim Fridley

400 Bill Dickey CO

401 Bob Schultz

402 Earl Harrist

403 Bill Miller

404 Dick Brodowski

405 Eddie Pellagrini

406 Joe Nuxhall RC

407 Eddie Mathews RC

Variations

As previously mentioned, all 80 Series One cards are available in Black and Red Backs.

Cards #131-190 are printed on both white and gray cardboard.

307 Frank Campos (One red/one black star on back in copyright line)

311 Mickey Mantle (Stitches point right)

312 Jackie Robinson (Stitches point right)

313 Bobby Thompson (Stitches point right)