For 52 T Gray geeks only

[flkersn]

I have been wanting to update this research for awhile, but could not manage to find the time. Well, now I have found it! Plenty...of...time.

I now have almost three more years of data for my white front/gray front study of the 52 Topps third series gray backs. (I know my language is confusing, but I also know that you geeks get it.) See my original post almost three years ago for the parameters and assumptions.

I now have 1336 uniquely-identified gray backs (I will avoid repeating "1952 Topps third series" each time, but you know that is what I mean). These cards have been catalogued by TPG number, or in the case of raw cards, ones that I have in hand and can uniquely identify. As with three years ago, I am sure there is some double counting because of cards being broken out of the holders and resubmitted, or sold as raw. As with three years ago, I hope the data skewing is minimal and does not affect the overall conclusion.

My data now show that about 15%, or about 1 in 7 gray backs have white (glossy) fronts. This is not quite as rare as I surmised three years ago (1 in 9), but still not common by any means.

As a final note, I have now seen, in hand or on scans, a white-front version of each of the 60 cards (except a yellow logo House-the 61st card!), including Reiser.

I welcome any comments.

Bill

[tedzan]

x





Hi Bill

Sorry, but I don't trust any data that suggests that the population of cards #'s 171 - 180 is equal to cards #131 - 170.

As we know....on a typical 100-card sheet (any series) of 1952 Topps cards, 4 rows are Double-Printed and 2 rows are Single-Printed.
Cards #171 - 180 and cards #181 - 190 were Short-Printed. This is true regardless of whether they were White-backs or Gray-backs.

I have collected 1952 TOPPS cards and filled customers want-lists for them for 40 years, so I've had a lot experience with these gems.
Especially with the Billy Martin card. Every Gray-back Billy Martin card I have had, has instantly "flown off" my table at BB card shows.
In fact, many years ago, dealers were paying me on the average of $400 for this card (irrelevant of its condition).


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[flkersn]

I don't believe our data are in conflict. I'm suggesting that, on average, there is 1 white front for every 6 gray fronts (1 in 7 total). If there are less of 171-190 (which I believe), there are less of BOTH gray front and white front versions.

Perhaps I misunderstood your comment. (I really do have too much time on my hands.)

Bill

[toppcat]

Each series was printed across two 100 card half sheets to make a full 200 card press sheet. George Vrechek has theorized for Run #3 (card #s 131 to 190): 40 players were triple printed, 20 players were quadruple printed to get to 200, or 4:3 ratio on shortprints.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Each series was printed across two 100 card half sheets to make a full 200 card press sheet. George Vrechek has theorized for Run #3 (card #s 131 to 190): 40 players were triple printed, 20 players were quadruple printed to get to 200, or 4:3 ratio on shortprints.

Hi Dave

I pieced together 4 scans of a 1st series partial (50-card) sheet to simulate a 200-card sheet....just like you noted.
Back in the early 1980's, I vaguely recall seeing such a sheet of 1952 TOPPS cards at Bill Bossert's store in Swarthmore, PA.

These TOPPS sheets were printed using 54-inch (or 55-inch) track width printing presses of that era.


V---------------------------------------------------------------- 54-inch wide printing press ------------------------------------------------------------------V

[toppcat]

Here is an interesting photo from god knows where at this point but sent to me by John Moran and which gives a partial glimpse of series 2-looks like a final proof just before the press run:

[Republicaninmass]

1st series sheets are no help, as they have 80 cards, and 3rd series has 60.

2nd series is promising, as "the last row" are the sps. That would account for 180-190 being sps. But then why are the 4th series (2 rows) 281-310 sps