Posted By:
Frank WakefieldI think that is because New Yorkers are baseball card hogs.
I base this, in part, on a story told me by a collector who went to NY as a kid. I think it was early 1953 (season, not year), but it might have been late in 52. As I recall the tale, he rode with his Dad in a car from Kentucky up to NY or NJ, very near NYC. Stayed with an uncle. One day they drove into the city to see the Yankees. Outside the stadium, at a news stand, the storyteller bought a pack of 1952 Topps cards. When he opened it there were all these players he'd not seen before. Back in Lexington, KY, they had 1952 Topps cards, but none of the last series. None of that final series ever made it back to Lexington store shelves. And here in his hand was a pack full of high number cards. He went back to the stand and bought a box. And once back home, he swapped some of that box away with his card collecting buddies, and was able to complete the 52 Topps set.
So even back in 1952, New Yorkers were hogging cards, holding out the series with Mantle. Making the rest of us come to them, and submit to their terms... You rascals!!!