What if Topps Never Made ...

[steve B]

I think the hobby would still be about the way it is now. Maybe with a bit of a twist, maybe not.

There would probably be a different card taking the place of the 52 Mantle, and yes the 51B would be a bigger deal.

The things that make a "great" collectible.. Rare but not too rare. Just enough to be hard to find but not impossible for someone with enough money.
A very popular subject. Mantle fits the bill nicely.
A good story... The harbor dumping, Honus not wanting to promote smoking, the story makes the card just that much better, and if it's the reason the card is tough, so much the better.

A couple candidates for " That card if the mantle wasn't made.

The 52T Robinson. same series, iconic player, also played in NY, (Hate to admit it, but that matters a LOT)
54 Bowman Williams. Great player, tough card, and a bit of a decent story, although contractual disputes don't quite get us there...
59 Fleer Ted signs.. Pretty much the same.

Or, the "winner" might be

From one of the less known regional sets.
Or some variation.

[rats60]

PSA has graded ~1650 52T Mantle and ~2150 51B Mantle. The Bowman is scarce enough that it would be the big card and there would never have been any confusion about which is a rookie card. As far as the rest, I agree with others that there wouldn't be much different.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by steve B

I think the hobby would still be about the way it is now. Maybe with a bit of a twist, maybe not.

There would probably be a different card taking the place of the 52 Mantle, and yes the 51B would be a bigger deal.

The things that make a "great" collectible.. Rare but not too rare. Just enough to be hard to find but not impossible for someone with enough money.
A very popular subject. Mantle fits the bill nicely.
A good story... The harbor dumping, Honus not wanting to promote smoking, the story makes the card just that much better, and if it's the reason the card is tough, so much the better.

A couple candidates for " That card if the mantle wasn't made.

The 52T Robinson. same series, iconic player, also played in NY, (Hate to admit it, but that matters a LOT)
54 Bowman Williams. Great player, tough card, and a bit of a decent story, although contractual disputes don't quite get us there...
59 Fleer Ted signs.. Pretty much the same.

Or, the "winner" might be

From one of the less known regional sets.
Or some variation.

I would submit the '52 Mays.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The winner would be another Mantle. Nobody post war is going to take the place of Mantle.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The winner would be another Mantle. Nobody post war is going to take the place of Mantle.

Short term Mike Trout and half the prospects that have never played a single game beg to differ.