What to do??

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

Here's my challenge with the 1952 Topps set.

My goal has always been to have a complete set from every year. I'm inches away from having that goal back to 1954.

My question has always been, will a 1952 Topps set truly be "complete" with just 1-310 - or should I go with a 1952 Bowman set instead?

I'll admit to be a completist and there is NO WAY I could EVER justify buying even a low grade 52 Topps Mantle. So completely completing that set is not an option.

Darkhorse,

That is a very good question and one that I have been struggling with for a while. Normally, I consider a set complete with all 407 cards as long as 1 have at least one variation of each. However, the variation guys (thanks Al-R) got me thinking long & hard about this issue.

The '52 set is very unique and some of the variations are critical to the set such as the Page/Sain & Campos variations - and a litany of others that have been discussed.

I've decided to my set will be complete at 407 and will try to pick up most of the variations for a complete Super set. However, I do not think I will try to complete a Master set anyway which would be impossible - given all the variations in the 3rd mid-series cards (plain back, gray back; and then both of the gray backs with either "normal" or "glossy" fronts). Even the Master set in the Mile High auction isn't a true Master set because it doesn't recognize the gray back glossy fronts.

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone ever completing a set of '52 Topps with the mid-series gray back, glossy fronts, when only 24 or so have been identified before. These have to be the rarest of all the '52 Topps cards - significantly more rare than the high numbers or even 3rd series gray backs.


Z Wheat