Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisI can only tell you of my collecting experience in Hillside, NJ in 1951 and 1952.
Of the 1951 Bowmans that I recovered from my youth, there were no Hi#s.
And, of course Mantle's Rookie card is the 1st card in the HI# Series (#253)
and Jackie Jensen's was adjacent (#254) on the 72-card sheet.
I cannot account why I didn't collect the Hi# cards, which would've been available
in the Fall of '51. One factor you must realize, in 1951 Mantle was having troubles
and not many of us were excited about his BB card.
My memory of the 1952 collecting season is clearer. The 1st series of the 1952
Bowmans (72 cards) were first out in the market (at least in my neighborhood).
Then the 1952 Topps were at the stores. These larger cards made such a huge
impression on us kids, that most of us stopped collecting the smaller Bowman cards.
Now, by the time the Hi# series of 1952 Topps was available in the Fall of '52,
Mantle had become an exciting player and we all wanted his card. And, when the
kids were opening up 5 cent packs and finding Mantle's, I recall the Fall of '52
being a very exciting time.....even for those who were not Yankees fans.
I leave you with this fact.....Mickey batted .311 in 1952....so, how did Topps know
this, since they numbered his card....311.....?
T-Rex TED