1952 topps martin

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by tedzan

TED Z

This Topps mid-series (#131-190) printed on GRAY cardboard stock was not printed or issued in 1952. Subsequently, Topps apparently printed this series
of cards on the same cardboard stock that they printed their other cards (Rails & Sails, etc.).
Whatever the reason why Topps did this is unknown to me, other then I'm certain that these cards were not issued in 1952 with their regular issue of 407
BB cards....nor were they issued with Bubble Gum. Perhaps, some one else on this forum knows why....and, can clue us in.


TED Z

[ALR-bishop]

I certainly do not know the answer to their origins, but having put together the 52 and 54 sets with known variations ( including the 2 Mantle, Thompson and Robinson variations and the 3 Campos variations) ....other then the 2 "Canadian" subset issues ( I know they may not actually be Canadian in origin but are often referred to in that way), I know how tough it is to put those "sets" together and salute folks like Ted who are doing so.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I certainly do not know the answer to their origins, but having put together the 52 and 54 sets with known variations ( including the 2 Mantle, Thompson and Robinson variations and the 3 Campos variations) ....other then the 2 "Canadian" subset issues ( I know they may not actually be Canadian in origin but are often referred to in that way), I know how tough it is to put those "sets" together and salute folks like Ted who are doing so.

Al,

Wow quite an accomplishment. Nice....

Z Wheat

[Volod]

Originally Posted by tedzan

This Topps mid-series (#131-190) printed on GRAY cardboard stock was not printed or issued in 1952. Subsequently, Topps apparently printed this series
of cards on the same cardboard stock that they printed their other cards (Rails & Sails, etc.).
Whatever the reason why Topps did this is unknown to me, other then I'm certain that these cards were not issued in 1952 with their regular issue of 407
BB cards....nor were they issued with Bubble Gum. Perhaps, some one else on this forum knows why....and, can clue us in.


TED Z

Thanks for the info, Ted. But I'm wondering, how is it known that the greys were issued later than 1952? Is it just the recollection of collectors who did not see tham in that year, but saw them at some later point?

[tedzan]

Several of us ole "dinosaurs" in the hobby, who collected 1952 Topps as kids in 1952, have compared notes over the years on all that is 1952 Topps.

Most of us have put together "master sets". I need a few more GRAY's to complete my set. Also, I should add that I have all of my 1952 Topps cards
from my youth.

Anyhow, everyone of us dinosaurs recall very well that none of these GRAY's were available in '52. There are enough of us that we represent various
regions of the country, so it can't be said that the GRAY's were limited to a specific regions in this country.

One of the well-known veteran collectors in the hobby, John Rumierz, has done some research and he says this series of 60 BB cards were issued with
products other than Topps gum. This is obvious, since there is no gloss on the front of these GRAY's (as is found on the regular 1952 Topps BB cards).
John R. thinks that the GRAY's were issued circa 1953-54.


TED Z

[campyfan39]

^ very interesting theory!
Also, wow a master set of 52's has to be my dream! Hopefully one day I can find a lot reasonable enough to get started. For me it is "the monster"

[Volod]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Several of us ole "dinosaurs" in the hobby, who collected 1952 Topps as kids in 1952, have compared notes over the years on all that is 1952 Topps.
Most of us have put together "master sets". I need a few more GRAY's to complete my set. Also, I should add that I have all of my 1952 Topps cards from my youth.
Anyhow, everyone of us dinosaurs recall very well that none of these GRAY's were available in '52. There are enough of us that we represent various regions of the country, so it can't be said that the GRAY's were limited to a specific regions in this country.
One of the well-known veteran collectors in the hobby, John Rumierz, has done some research and he says this series of 60 BB cards were issued with products other than Topps gum. This is obvious, since there is no gloss on the front of these GRAY's (as is found on the regular 1952 Topps BB cards). John R. thinks that the GRAY's were issued circa 1953-54.
TED Z

Ted - Thanks once again for dispensing hobby history enlightenment. I also admit to dinosaur status, but I'm closer to a pteranodon than T-Rex because I never could find Topps cards in 1952. Found plenty of Bowman and even '51 Redbacks and All Stars, but for some reason the 1952 set seemed to be sparsely distributed in my small town. Maybe the Mom/Pop's hid them on the back shelves when they saw me coming in with a jar of pennies.

[tedzan]

Steve

Thanks for your kind words. I'm curious, where did you live in 1952 that you did not have 52T cards at your neighborhood stores ?

I know that certain series of 1952 Topps (52T) cards were not available in certain areas of the country; however, the 52T's were very popular.
Topps went back and repeated press runs of the 1st & 2nd series to satisfy the demand.

The RED backs of the 1st series (cards #1-80) are the result of these repeated press runs. In the North Jersey and greater New York city area
the 1st series cards were the BLACK backs (available in the Spring of '52).


TED Z

[Volod]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Steve

Thanks for your kind words. I'm curious, where did you live in 1952 that you did not have 52T cards at your neighborhood stores ?

I know that certain series of 1952 Topps (52T) cards were not available in certain areas of the country; however, the 52T's were very popular.
Topps went back and repeated press runs of the 1st & 2nd series to satisfy the demand.

The RED backs of the 1st series (cards #1-80) are the result of these repeated press runs. In the North Jersey and greater New York city area
the 1st series cards were the BLACK backs (available in the Spring of '52).

TED Z

Sorry, the Redbacks I referred to were the 1951 cards, not the '52's. I'm only going by the few memory cells I have left from that summer 60 years ago. As an 8-year-old in Auburn NY - small city west of Syracuse - most stores I went in had the 1952 Bowmans, and even some leftover 1951 Topps sets, but I don't recall ever finding the 1952 Topps set. I remember seeing the cards in another kid's collection, but he informed me he had obtained them on a trip to NYC, so I regarded them with great awe, as I assumed they were not available upstate. Now, however, I imagine the '52's might have been there somewhere if I had only known where to look - still, perhaps not very heavy distribution.

[ALR-bishop]

I have a set of 51 Red Backs in two panel form in an unopened "rack" pack with a game board and at least 5, 51 Current or Connie Mack All Stars...red backgrounds. The panels unfortunately are bound with rubber bands, which due to position would have little impact on the red backs but likely have had an impact on the All Star cards. Dave Hornish has a picture of such a pack, it might be mine, on his web site

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Steve

Thanks for your kind words. I'm curious, where did you live in 1952 that you did not have 52T cards at your neighborhood stores ?

I know that certain series of 1952 Topps (52T) cards were not available in certain areas of the country; however, the 52T's were very popular.
Topps went back and repeated press runs of the 1st & 2nd series to satisfy the demand.

The RED backs of the 1st series (cards #1-80) are the result of these repeated press runs. In the North Jersey and greater New York city area
the 1st series cards were the BLACK backs (available in the Spring of '52).


TED Z

Ted,

Are any of your sources that remembered buying 52 Topps when they were young from Canada? Why do you think they were issued at the same time as the Rails set?

Just curious. Thanks.

Zach Wheat

[tedzan]

Zach

None the guys who shared their experience collecting 52T cards in 1952 were from Canada. I have heard of rumors that the 52T mid-series gray-backs
originated from Canada. I have not seen any evidence of this.

I have also heard that 54T - 1st series (#1-50) cards that have gray-backs originated from Canada. I think this fact has been supported by at least 2
Canadian finds of 54T cards. I have a 54T Eddie Lopat gray-back as a type card.

Finally, one of the guys, who recalls getting 52T gray-backs as a kid, remembers buying Rails & Sails packs that included one (or two) 52T gray-backs.
Now, the Rails & Sails cards were issued in 1955, and that suggests, if this was so, it may have been an anomaly.


TED Z

[flkersn]

And why do some gray backs have white borders on the front?