Sy Berger in an SCD interview stated that the print run was wildly popular with vendors because of the success of earlier series. They were released too late. They did not sell and vendors returned them to Topps.
Berger subsequently tried to sell the cards by unconventional means like giving them away at carnivals etc. Tremendous backlog at their warehouse. There was no demand for the cards.
They were loaded on a barge and dumped in the ocean. This occurred in 1959
Topps didn't keep inventory of unopened product.
No reason for him to make up a story for this. I believe what he says.
https://www.sportscollectorsdigest.c...of_the_modern/