What makes this somewhat more ironic is that Topps could have printed actual rookie cards of Mantle and Mays in its 1951 Redback or Blueback sets, but since that year was Topps "rookie" year as a BB card publisher, the company was leery of using any but veteran players in those sets. But I have to wonder if there had been '51 Topps Mantle and Mays cards, would collectors still have spurned them in preference to the '52's?
|