Maybe the 52 Topps Highs did get dumped?

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

I've often wondered if there are any remnants on the ocean floor. Extreme long shot I would guess.

Since it took decades to find the Titanic, I'm guessing the odds of finding intact or remnants of cases of baseball cards would be infinitely smaller.

In addition, the number of people collecting Titanic memorabilia may even exceed the number of people collecting '52 Topps baseball. Given that, more effort would be made in looking for the Titanic... and it took years.

[Exhibitman]

Berger had been telling the garbage scow story since the 1970s. At least. I tend to believe a consistent eyewitness report over inductive reasoning.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Berger had been telling the garbage scow story since the 1970s. At least. I tend to believe a consistent eyewitness report over inductive reasoning.

Depends if Sy was actually there LOL

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Berger had been telling the garbage scow story since the 1970s. At least. I tend to believe a consistent eyewitness report over inductive reasoning.

Agree with Adam. Even in the early articles he has been consistent with this story.

Z

[Republicaninmass]

The FACT that the 52 highs are found in 1953 wrappers mean anything? Maybe "just a few" were still hanging around until then, and ole Sy tried to come up with a story how to move them to store owners, hide them in 53 wrappers. We do know they were at least hanging around until then.

I've always thought the "mistake" of releasing them later in the year was BS, as it has a lot of stars, and mostly filled with World Series competitors, albeit many managers. I feel its Dodger, Yankee, Red Sox, and Giant heavy.

[Cliff Bowman]

I wouldn't doubt at all that they dumped a bunch of them in the ocean sixty five years ago, my Dad told me that is was common to ditch old worn out vehicles in the woods and desolate areas back in the fifties and sixties because there was no market for them and you would have pay to legally get rid of them, and you could easily get away with that back then. I don't buy the theory that the 1952 Topps high numbers are scarce, in my opinion they are relatively plentiful and available, even in high grade. The set is immensely popular and there is a huge demand for it, but like I said before every single high number is available on eBay in multiple copies with many in high grade. You certainly can't say that about 1967 Topps Punch Outs, 1966 Pro's Pizza, or 1982 Topps Blackless.

[ALR-bishop]

Cliff-- I think I heard that Sy had the extras from those 3 loaded aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald

[toppcat]

52 high wrappers I have seen, blue and red, resemble but are not an exact match for the 53 wrappers, also blue and red.

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/20...is-not-53.html

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

I don't buy the theory that the 1952 Topps high numbers are scarce, in my opinion they are relatively plentiful and available, even in high grade. The set is immensely popular and there is a huge demand for it, but like I said before every single high number is available on eBay in multiple copies with many in high grade. You certainly can't say that about 1967 Topps Punch Outs, 1966 Pro's Pizza, or 1982 Topps Blackless.

I agree, when a 52s Hi # card's population is compared to obscure regional/test issues /t206 Wagner/etc they are indeed not scarce. However, when compared to other regular issue Topps sets (since they are indeed a "regular" issue) from the 50s, the 52 Hi #s are the scarcest (regular) series issued Topps series by far, graded or non-graded. The scarcity of this series is all relative as to what you compare it to.


FWIW, I believe the 52s HIs are swimming with the fish....if they are not swimming with the fish, than what happened to them if they existed at all?

[toppcat]

I want to check Card Collectors Co. catalogs. I'm pretty sure the late 50's ones had no highs then they start reappearing in the early 60's. Not 100% positive I have scans of all the issues from that time frame though so please feel free to post if scans you do.

I'm not 100% on the Canadian angle but do think mid-series 52 grays had some kind of alternate distribution method outside the norm of one cent and five cents packs that year.

I believe Topps had five locations in Brooklyn by 1960: 60 and 134 Broadway, 383 3rd Ave and the two buildings at Bush Terminal (Office on 36th, Factory on 37th). The first three likely were all warehouse space by then as was probably part of one of the Bush Terminal buildings. Lots of stuff could have been hidden and I think they did a big sweep of all inventory in 1965-66 before moving to Duryea, leading to some really awesome fun packs.