It's 1953..and you have a nickel..

[steve B]

I think it would depend on whether the Bowmans were color or the black and white.
Then maybe on whose gum I liked better.

Steve B

[the 'stache]

'53 Bowman Color, absolutely.

[marvymelvin]

I would buy 3 packs of Topps 52's from the bargain bin!!

[tedzan]

No guesswork here.....as a very young kid, I collected Sportscards from 1947-1953. I was a BOWMAN fan from 1948-1952; and, I bought (or traded) lots of BOWMAN's.

When TOPPS introduced their large size cards in 1952, I was fascinated by them. I stopped buying 1952 BOWMAN cards. So, in the Spring of 1953, I favored the TOPPS
cards over the photographic styled colorful BOWMAN cards.

It's my guess that many kids back then had the same sentiments as I did. Furthermore, TOPPS had better a distribution system than BOWMAN. 1953 TOPPS cards were
every where to be found. For example, certain areas in the South did not get 1953 BOWMAN low # cards (#1 - 112).

And, it's true....at the start, 1952 TOPPS Hi #'s were found with 1953 TOPPS 1st series cards (in certain areas in this country).


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TED Z

[KCRfan1]

Great insight to the times Ted. I always love your contributions!

[hammer]

53 Topps but I guess I am a Topps kid but if they were out I would pick up the 53 Bowmans because I loved baseball cards back then. And I was a fanatic.

[the 'stache]

Ok, my honest answer? I'd have gone outside and looked for another nickel, so I could buy a pack of both!

I love the early 50s Topps cards. But to me, the '53 Bowman Color set belongs in the pantheon of all-time great baseball card sets. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. More is less. Too many baseball cards (especially today) clutter cards with unnecessary information, logos, etc.

The '53 Bowman Color set didn't do that. I don't need to see "Eddie Mathews" name to know the guy I'm looking at is Eddie Mathews. If it's somebody I don't know, I can flip the card over. But for the greats of the game that played in the early to mid 50s, there's no bigger treat than to see them in their natural setting. The photography in that set was so beautiful. No set since then has surpassed it in sheer visual appeal.

When I think of the most beautiful sets, I think of the T206 set, Turkey Red, '14 and '15 Cracker Jack, '33 and '34 Goudey, and the 1953 Bowman Color. There are other great sets, but those are, for me, the very pinnacle.

[tedzan]

Please do not misconstrue my above comments. As a 14 year old kid in 1953, I had out-grown BB card collecting and was into cars and girls.

When I returned to the hobby in 1977, I first worked on upgrading and completing my 1952 Topps set and my Bowman sets (from my youth).
And, especially the 1953 Bowman Color and B/W sets.

In the process of constantly upgrading, I completed 4 color 1953 Bowman sets.

Furthermore....in 1985, I published a 5-page article on the 1953 Bowman set in Bob Lemke's Baseball Cards Magazine.






TED Z

[brett 75]

Ted Page 2-5 please ! Would like to finish the article if possible. Thanks ,Brett

[philliesphan]

I'd buy the Topps.

I really really love the Bowman Color photography and prefer it from a collecting standpoint today. However, I also fundamentally believe a baseball card should have the name of the player on front. For that reason alone, I'd go with Topps (which has beautiful artwork, names, etc.)

[GoldenAge50s]

This thread is taking me back!

As a 13 yr old in 1953, and already having collected cards from 8 yrs old up until then, there is no doubt what we waited for in 1953--the new, big size Topps cards!

After all the small Bowman's from '48 thru 1951, the 1952 Topps took me & my friends by storm! Here were some great big, colorful cards that were different! '52 Bowmans were still small & we couldn't wait to see what Topps would look like in 1953!

Spring 1953 came & we had TWO sets to collect, but Topps got the 1st nickles every time!

As it came to pass I bought both and to this day have my original 1953 Topps set and both of my original Bowman Color & B & W sets, complete from date of issue, but there is no doubt Topps was the new "most wanted"!

[Theoldprofessor]

I was 11 that year, and for my August birthday I asked for and received a BOX of 53 Topps hi numbers. I can remember opening them in the car, on the way back from the store. And yes, there was a Mays in there.

Best day of my childhood.