1952 Topps - The Missing 3

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

My feeling is it wasn't an exclusive contract with Berk Ross aka Hit Parade. Admittedly, I am not as versed in the particulars as you would be but Lemke wrote an article on the Berk Ross sets and he suggests the set was unlicensed and they were flirting with the NIL issue. Lemke details that the original lawsuit for NIL $$ actually originated from the Berk Ross set (compensation for 6 of the players was $20) and was filed by the same attorney (Shapiro) for the same reason as the more popular Haelean Lab (aka Bowman) V Topps Inc. lawsuit in 1953. So just a guess here...and its only a guess...but the contract with Williams wasn't exclusive since the compensation was minimal for the players mentioned in the lawsuit. To me, that suggests Hit Parade, et al. had a tight budget. The '51 set included 30 figures not related to baseball. This again suggests that Hit Parade et al. was on a tight budget.

My guess is Topps just couldn't get the contract with Williams signed as he was overseas by July of '52. And Berger has said a number of times Boston was his favorite team growing up, which leads me to think Williams might have been 1 of the 3.

Again just a wild guess.

Could be. All you can really do at this point is make best guesses on this stuff.

Am I reading this right, Berk-Ross may have been partially licensed? I'll have to look at that Lemke piece again.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Could be. All you can really do at this point is make best guesses on this stuff.

Am I reading this right, Berk-Ross may have been partially licensed? I'll have to look at that Lemke piece again.

Agree. I believe it was at least a partially licensed set but the litigants versus Hit Parade et al (the firms named in the original lawsuit) had representation contracts with some but possibly not all of the players in the set. I believe that's why their initial "test run" Berk Ross set in 1951 included so many outside MLB. I believe their initial legal complaint was based upon their $20 compensation was not enough for the rights to their "NIL" and therefore the request for $50K in total. (I could not find the original suit yet - just Lemke's summary). I believe the players ended up losing the legal battle, but this set the stage for the later NIL legal proceedings with Haelean, Shapiro and Marvin Miller, etc.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Agree. I believe it was at least a partially licensed set but the litigants versus Hit Parade et al (the firms named in the original lawsuit) had representation contracts with some but possibly not all of the players in the set. I believe that's why their initial "test run" Berk Ross set in 1951 included so many outside MLB. I believe their initial legal complaint was based upon their $20 compensation was not enough for the rights to their "NIL" and therefore the request for $50K in total. (I could not find the original suit yet - just Lemke's summary). I believe the players ended up losing the legal battle, but this set the stage for the later NIL legal proceedings with Haelean, Shapiro and Marvin Miller, etc.

I have a 1953 Bowman Mickey Vernon but it doesn't have any actual dollar amount listed. I also have a card contract of Mickey Owen for 1955 Topps. He had a choice of picking a Polaroid camera, a set of Spalding Golf clubs, RCA Hi-Fi Phonograph, or a check. Does not give amount check would be. I have owned a few others and the players made very little from the card companies based on the ones I have seen/owned.

[Republicaninmass]

I'd have to check back, but I believe the 1952 players were paid $250. Ralph branca once told a story how he was trying to persuade billy loes to sign for his REPRINT card (was never made since he wouldn't sign) and topps offered the same amount in 1982/83 as they had in 1952. Loes felt they should pay more as it was years later. Branca was trying to convince him the work was done and it would just be free money for signing the authorization. I can't remember where Branca told this.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I have a 1953 Bowman Mickey Vernon but it doesn't have any actual dollar amount listed. I also have a card contract of Mickey Owen for 1955 Topps. He had a choice of picking a Polaroid camera, a set of Spalding Golf clubs, RCA Hi-Fi Phonograph, or a check. Does not give amount check would be. I have owned a few others and the players made very little from the card companies based on the ones I have seen/owned.

I can't tell if he filled out the first line but if he did, Mickey Owen may have taken too many hits to the noggin in his days behind the dish.

[Zach Wheat]

David wrote an excellent article on how Topps was rushing to fill the "2nd series" which we now refer to as the 6th series in this article:

https://www.thetoppsarchives.com/sea...pps%20Baseball

Great research and information David. Maybe Sy meant to add Wally Berger....Sy had previously referenced Wally as his favorite player. However, at the time Topps was filling out the 6th series subject list, they were scrambling. They had even added Paul Richards who last played with the Detroit Tigers in 1946, so it was not unusual to add an inactive player. Berger last played in 1940 with Philly.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

David wrote an excellent article on how Topps was rushing to fill the "2nd series" which we now refer to as the 6th series in this article:

https://www.thetoppsarchives.com/sea...pps%20Baseball

Great research and information David. Maybe Sy meant to add Wally Berger....Sy had previously referenced Wally as his favorite player. However, at the time Topps was filling out the 6th series subject list, they were scrambling. They had even added Paul Richards who last played with the Detroit Tigers in 1946, so it was not unusual to add an inactive player. Berger last played in 1940 with Philly.

Richards is in the 1952 Topps set as the active manager of the White Sox, not an inactive player. Inactive players who were not active coaches were not included.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by G1911

Richards is in the 1952 Topps set as the active manager of the White Sox, not an inactive player. Inactive players who were not active coaches were not included.

Does aaa count?
Marv rickert aaa
Bob wellman aaa
Joe.page active 1950, then not until 54
Off the top of my head
Plenty of other players who were not in MLB