I think the strategy of a late season release being tied to the World Series was pretty common until the early 1950's. While the difficulty of finding enough raw materials after the war to produce sets and related confections can't be discounted, I don't think this strategy changed for good until after Topps tanked with the 1952 high numbers.
Pre-war (WW1) cards certainly were timed to the WS in many instances and I know Topps 1949 Varsity Football set was timed to the day after New Year's Day (1950) Rose Bowl. The 1952 High numbers were geared toward the upcoming World Series as well. Neither series sold anything near what Topps envisioned, although I believe the 52's were printed in the same quantities as the semi-high's (i.e. less than the prior four series). I don't think Topps sold "late-late" series again until they went to a seven series issue in 1959.
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