Has anyone here tackled the 1952 Topps set?
 

The post about the 1956 Topps set got me to wondering, has anyone here put together the 1952 Topps set? If so, did you go for all of the variations or just the standard 407 cards?

1952 Topps master set near complete
 

A master set of the 1952 Topps issues comprises of 553 cards. I am nearing completion of this master 52T set, as I need a few of the
extremely rare mid-series (#131-190) cards with the GRAY backs. The overall condition of my set is Ex.

Many of the cards in my set are from my collection when I was a kid in 1952, including my Mickey Mantle card.


TED Z

I've never been a big collector of "master" sets. I decided that, with my compulsion for set collecting, I had to draw the line somewhere. But I am working on a complete numerical set.

For a complete run of numerical Topps sets, from 1952 - mid 1990's, I am currently missing about 40 1952 high numbers and about 5 cards from 1954. I have kind of let it stall there for a while.

1952 set
 

I have done the set plus an unopened pack. I have not undertaken the monumental task that Ted has with the very tough gray back series. I do have the red and black backs ( and the front differences in some of the first series cards related to those different backs) , and all the Sain and Page variations.

I also have the Campos black star, and the unlisted Campos variation with the missing upper left front border which was discussed in a recent SCD article.

I also have both variations of the Mantle, Robinson and Thompson cards, which involves the reversed stitching on the baseball on the back...left or right ( the Mantle also has significant front variations). The last 3 are not formally cataloged as far as I know, but fairly well recognized. I also have 3 fairly distinct front versions of the Boone card ( 2 simply related to the red v black back situation).

I do not have the color background difference for Crandall ( orange versus red, if it exists), but do have the two different color fronts for Feller. There are apparently several front background color variations out there that may be more fading or sunlight results than actual printing differences

Ted---based on my experience, your near completion of the gray backs is an amazing accomplishment

Jim---when I finished all the Topps sets, my "compulsion" took over. Be careful :-)

Al,

That may well be why I have dragged my feet on picking up the last few cards!

I just listed the last of my '52 commons on ebay this weekend. I'm keeping a few cards (Andy Pafko, Larry Jansen, and any with the players wearing glasses) because it's such a great set. I've kept no stars though.

1952 Topps Set
 

Ted Z is the master....what a lofty goal. I can't even imagine the effort, patience & expense it would take to construct a master set. I look for 3rd series gray backs on a regular basis and can't find that many (I have 4); and then to take the Campos black star/red star variation into consideration.....

I have been working towards a 1952 Topps set since the 1990's. I am nearing completion of the set with a few missing from the 6th hi numbered series. I am missing perhaps 15 or so hi numbers but my goal is near. Most of my cards including Mantle are Ex+ with a smattering of Vg-cards - which I upgrade when time permits.

Zach Wheat

Hey Zach
 

I had a head start on most here. I started in the Spring of 1952. Then in 1977, when I re-discovered this hobby,
I recovered many of the cards from my youth (that were in my folks attic).

Here are the last 1952 Topps cards that I got as a kid when I opened my last 5-cent pack in the Fall of '52.



<img src="http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt113/zanted86/52tchapmjeffhermspenc.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

<img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/mmantle52t.jpg" alt="[linked image]">


TED Z

1952 Topps
 

Wow neat. That is really cool. Did you stop buying & opening packs because you got a Mantle? I know you mentioned you have had other Mantles over the years (both Type I & II). Did you ever get the Billy Martin rookie (#175) gray back? I know that one is tough to find.

And do you consider the Campos no border a variation or print error?


Zach Wheat

Zach
 

In the Fall of 1952, I kept opening Topps packs of Hi #s until I found a Mantle.
Then I went on to collecting Coins, Comics, Stamps, and girlfriends :)


Here's my Billy Martin rookie card with a white back and the extremely tough gray back.


<img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/abacks52topps.jpg" alt="[linked image]">

<img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/bbacks52topps.jpg" alt="[linked image]">




TED Z

I tried
 

I tried but gave up....I was going for all the low numbers in any condition and got about 1/3rd done. Then I got bored and auctioned it off on eBay.

I still am obsessed with this set but figured I should just buy a few of the stars cards and call it a day. The Mantle and Mays and J Robinson are on my aspirational list and for some reason i am obsessed with the high #'s. One of my local shops has a Dick Groat RC that I might buy.

One of the best buys I had on eBay recently was for a lot of '52s which had two high numbers and those two cards i sold off and basically paid for the whole lot.

Working slowly on a Vg set that will be well centered. Hi Numbers are scare and pricey as well as most often times off center. I will also pick up well centered graded cards if they are cheap enough. I am going to do all the black and red 1-80. IMO this set is just going to continue to climb in any condition.