Produced by the Topps Gum Company, 1952 Topps Baseball is thought about by collectors and baseball historians to be the most crucial post-war baseball card set ever produced.
It’s considered one of the big three sets. The others include Goudey and T206.
The 407-card set was the largest ever produced at the time of its release.
In addition to the bigger checklist, the style of the cards themselves featured complete team logo designs, colorized black-and-white photography and, most surprisingly, a facsimile signature of the gamer taken directly from their player contract with Topps.
The card backs included statistics and biographical info about the players, a part that would become very crucial in assisting to connect the illustrated players with their targeted market, children.
This catapulted Topps into the forefront of baseball card collecting.
This set also features one of baseball’s most iconic and important cards. The 1952 Mickey Mantle.
As was typical at the time, the 1952 Topps Baseball set was produced in 6 different series.
Topps produced the later series cards in a much shorter amount due to kids returning to school & the baseball season ending.
In an effort to boost sales, it was also traditional to keep back the production of some popular players till a later series.
A legendary folktale from the set is that a lot of the cards ended up in the water discarded. Several of the unsold pallets of high-numbered series cases were dumped into the Hudson River with a forklift. Imagine the value of those cards today.
1952 Mickey Mantle #311
The Mantle is one of the most iconic cards ever produced. Every time a high grade card goes up for auction it hits new records.
The card is super scarce as it was a high number and is the 2nd card of one of the greatest Yankees of all time. Many actually mistake this card as Mantle’s rookie.
Rob Gough, an entrepreneur & actor recently acquired a PSA 9 version of this card for 5 Million. This is now officially the highest price paid ever for a baseball card.
1952 Eddie Matthews #407
The Eddie Matthews is the best rookie card found in the 1952 Topps set.
Not only is he the best HOF rookie, it’s also a high number.
Eddie hit over 500 home runs in his career and had slightly under 100 WAR.
A great player who is overshadowed by many of the legends in the set.
1952 Jackie Robinson #312
This one ranks high up on the list of Robinson’s many preferable cards of all along with his 1948 Leaf and 1949 Bowman issues.
It’s his 5th card, but still early in his career.
1952 Willie Mays #261
Just like with Mickey Mantle, the Mays 52 is his 2nd card.
This card is easier to run by as it wasn’t a high series card.
But it still is worth a ton as it’s the 2nd best card of a top 5 player of all time.
1952 Hoyt Wilhelm #392
While Wilhelm is a lower-end Hall of Famer, his card is still collectible.
He had 8 all-star game appearances along with 2 era titles.
It’s a much cheaper card than Matthews, but a great card to add to any collection.
1952 Andy Pafko #1
The majority of baseball fans may not recognize Pafko but most baseball card collectors do.
As card # 1 in the set, his card typically struggles with unusual wear and tear from being the very first card in the set.
That implied he was at the top corner of the printing sheet (exposed to increased wear) and kids covered their card stacks (with his typically on top) with elastic band.
1952 Gus Zernial #31
A fan favorite card, this features 6 baseballs on a bat with gus giving the ok sign.
Just a fun/iconic card in the set.
Gus isn’t a bum though, the year before he led the American league in homeruns.
It’s not an expensive card, so it’s a great way to get your first 52 card.
Set Checklist
The set features 407 cards in total.
For cards 1-80, Topps printed them with both red and black backs
For cards 131-190, there are rare gray back variations.
1 Andy Pafko
2 Pete Runnels RC
3 Hank Thompson
4 Don Lenhardt
5 Larry Jansen
6 Grady Hatton
7 Wayne Terwilliger
8 Fred Marsh RC
9 Bobby Hogue RC
10 Al Rosen
11 Phil Rizzuto
12 Monty Basgall RC
13 Johnny Wyrostek
14 Bob Elliott
15 Johnny Pesky
16 Gene Hermanski
17 Jim Hegan
18 Merrill Combs RC
19 Johnny Bucha RC
20 Billy Loes RC
21 Ferris Fain
22 Dom DiMaggio
23 Billy Goodman
24 Luke Easter
25 Johnny Groth
26 Monte Irvin
27 Sam Jethroe
28 Jerry Priddy
29 Ted Kluszewski
30 Mel Parnell
31 Gus Zernial
32 Eddie Robinson
33 Warren Spahn
34 Elmer Valo
35 Hank Sauer
36 Gil Hodges
37 Duke Snider
38 Wally Westlake
39 Dizzy Trout
40 Irv Noren
41 Bob Wellman RC
42 Lou Kretlow RC
43 Ray Scarborough
44 Con Dempsey RC
45 Eddie Joost
46 Gordon Goldsberry RC
47 Willie Jones
48 Joe Page – Error
48 Joe Page – Corrected
49 Johnny Sain – Error
49 Johnny Sain – Corrected
50 Marv Rickert RC
51 Jim Russell
52 Don Mueller
53 Chris Van Cuyk RC
54 Leo Kiely
55 Ray Boone
56 Tommy Glaviano
57 Ed Lopat
58 Bob Mahoney RC
59 Robin Roberts
60 Sid Hudson
61 Tookie Gilbert
62 Chuck Stobbs RC
63 Howie Pollet
64 Roy Sievers
65 Enos Slaughter
66 Preacher Roe
67 Allie Reynolds
68 Cliff Chambers
69 Virgil Stallcup
70 Al Zarilla
71 Tom Upton RC
72 Karl Olson RC
73 Bill Werle
74 Andy Hansen RC
75 Wes Westrum
76 Eddie Stanky
77 Bob Kennedy
78 Ellis Kinder
79 Jerry Staley
80 Herm Wehmeier
81 Vern Law
82 Duane Pillette
83 Billy Johnson
84 Vern Stephens
85 Bob Kuzava
86 Ted Gray
87 Dale Coogan
88 Bob Feller
89 Johnny Lipon
90 Mickey Grasso
91 Red Schoendienst
92 Dale Mitchell
93 Al Sima RC
94 Sam Mele
95 Ken Holcombe
96 Willard Marshall
97 Earl Torgeson
98 Billy Pierce
99 Gene Woodling
100 Del Rice
101 Max Lanier
102 Bill Kennedy
103 Cliff Mapes
104 Don Kolloway
105 Johnny Pramesa
106 Mickey Vernon
107 Connie Ryan
108 Jim Konstanty
109 Ted Wilks
110 Dutch Leonard
111 Peanuts Lowrey
112 Hank Majeski
113 Dick Sisler
114 Willard Ramsdell
115 Red Munger
116 Carl Scheib
117 Sherm Lollar
118 Ken Raffensberger
119 Mickey McDermott
120 Bob Chakales RC
121 Gus Niarhos
122 Jackie Jensen
123 Eddie Yost
124 Monte Kennedy
125 Bill Rigney
126 Fred Hutchinson
127 Paul Minner RC
128 Don Bollweg RC
129 Johnny Mize
130 Sheldon Jones
131 Morrie Martin RC
132 Clyde Kluttz RC
133 Al Widmar
134 Joe Tipton
135 Dixie Howell
136 Johnny Schmitz
137 Roy McMillan RC
138 Bill MacDonald
139 Ken Wood
140 Johnny Antonelli
141 Clint Hartung
142 Harry Perkowski RC
143 Les Moss
144 Ed Blake RC
145 Joe Haynes
146 Frank House RC
147 Bobby Young RC
148 Johnny Klippstein
149 Dick Kryhoski
150 Ted Beard
151 Wally Post RC
152 Al Evans
153 Bob Rush
154 Joe Muir RC
155 Frank Overmire
156 Frank Hiller RC
157 Bob Usher
158 Eddie Waitkus
159 Saul Rogovin RC
160 Owen Friend
161 Bud Byerly RC
162 Del Crandall
163 Stan Rojek
164 Walt Dubiel
165 Eddie Kazak
166 Paul LaPalme RC
167 Bill Howerton
168 Charlie Silvera RC
169 Howie Judson
170 Gus Bell
171 Ed Erautt RC
172 Eddie Miksis
173 Roy Smalley
174 Cuddles Marshall RC
175 Billy Martin RC
176 Hank Edwards
177 Bill Wight
178 Cass Michaels
179 Frank Smith RC
180 Charlie Maxwell RC
181 Bob Swift
182 Billy Hitchcock
183 Erv Dusak
184 Bob Ramazzotti
185 Bill Nicholson
186 Walt Masterson
187 Bob Miller
188 Bud Podbielan RC
189 Pete Reiser
190 Don Johnson RC
191 Yogi Berra
192 Myron Ginsberg RC
193 Harry Simpson RC
194 Joe Hatten
195 Minnie Minoso RC
196 Solly Hemus RC
197 George Strickland RC
198 Phil Haugstad RC
199 George Zuverink RC
200 Ralph Houk RC
201 Alex Kellner
202 Joe Collins RC
203 Curt Simmons
204 Ron Northey
205 Clyde King
206 Joe Ostrowski RC
207 Mickey Harris
208 Marlin Stuart RC
209 Howie Fox
210 Dick Fowler
211 Ray Coleman
212 Ned Garver
213 Nippy Jones
214 Johnny Hopp
215 Hank Bauer
216 Richie Ashburn
217 George Stirnweiss
218 Clyde McCullough
219 Bobby Shantz
220 Joe Presko RC
221 Granny Hamner
222 Hoot Evers
223 Del Ennis
224 Bruce Edwards
225 Frank Baumholtz
226 Dave Philley
227 Joe Garagiola
228 Al Brazle
229 Gene Bearden
230 Matt Batts
231 Sam Zoldak
232 Billy Cox
233 Bob Friend RC
234 Steve Souchock RC
235 Walt Dropo
236 Ed Fitz Gerald
237 Jerry Coleman
238 Art Houtteman
239 Rocky Bridges RC
240 Jack Phillips RC
241 Tommy Byrne
242 Tom Poholsky RC
243 Larry Doby
244 Vic Wertz
245 Sherry Robertson
246 George Kell
247 Randy Gumpert
248 Spec Shea
249 Bobby Adams
250 Carl Erskine
251 Chico Carrasquel
252 Vern Bickford
253 Johnny Berardino
254 Joe Dobson
255 Clyde Vollmer
256 Pete Suder
257 Bobby Avila
258 Steve Gromek
259 Bob Addis RC
260 Pete Castiglione
261 Willie Mays
262 Virgil Trucks
263 Harry Brecheen
264 Roy Hartsfield
265 Chuck Diering
266 Murry Dickson
267 Sid Gordon
268 Bob Lemon
269 Willard Nixon
270 Lou Brissie
271 Jim Delsing
272 Mike Garcia
273 Erv Palica
274 Ralph Branca
275 Pat Mullin
276 Jim Wilson RC
277 Earl Wilson
278 Allie Clark
279 Bud Stewart
280 Cloyd Boyer
281 Tommy Brown SP
282 Birdie Tebbetts SP
283 Phil Masi SP
284 Hank Arft SP
285 Cliff Fannin SP
286 Joe DeMaestri RC SP
287 Steve Bilko SP
288 Chet Nichols RC SP
289 Tommy Holmes
290 Joe Astroth SP
291 Gil Coan SP
292 Floyd Baker SP
293 Sibby Sisti SP
294 Walker Cooper SP
295 Phil Cavarretta
296 Red Rolfe
297 Andy Seminick SP
298 Bob Ross RC SP
299 Ray Murray RC SP
300 Barney McCosky SP
301 Bob Porterfield
302 Max Surkont RC
303 Harry Dorish
304 Sam Dente
305 Paul Richards
306 Lou Sleater RC
307 Frank Campos RC
308 Luis Aloma
309 Jim Busby
310 George Metkovich
311 Mickey Mantle
312 Jackie Robinson
313 Bobby Thomson
314 Roy Campanella
315 Leo Durocher
316 Davey Williams RC
317 Connie Marrero
318 Hal Gregg RC
319 Rube Walker RC
320 John Rutherford RC
321 Joe Black RC
322 Randy Jackson RC
323 Bubba Church
324 Warren Hacker
325 Bill Serena
326 George Shuba RC
327 Archie Wilson RC
328 Bob Borkowski RC
329 Ike Delock RC
330 Turk Lown RC
331 Tom Morgan RC
332 Tony Bartirome RC
333 Pee Wee Reese
334 Wilmer Mizell RC
335 Ted Lepcio RC
336 Dave Koslo
337 Jim Hearn
338 Sal Yvars RC
339 Russ Meyer
340 Bob Hooper
341 Hal Jeffcoat
342 Clem Labine RC
343 Dick Gernert RC
344 Ewell Blackwell
345 Sammy White RC
346 George Spencer RC
347 Joe Adcock
348 Bob Kelly RC
349 Bob Cain
350 Cal Abrams
351 Alvin Dark
352 Karl Drews
353 Bobby Del Greco RC
354 Fred Hatfield RC
355 Bobby Morgan
356 Toby Atwell RC
357 Smoky Burgess
358 John Kucab RC
359 Dee Fondy RC
360 George Crowe RC
361 Bill Posedel
362 Ken Heintzelman
363 Dick Rozek RC
364 Clyde Sukeforth RC
365 Cookie Lavagetto
366 Dave Madison RC
367 Bob Thorpe RC
368 Ed Wright RC
369 Dick Groat RC
370 Billy Hoeft RC
371 Bobby Hofman
372 Gil McDougald RC
373 Jim Turner RC
374 Al Benton RC
375 Jack Merson RC
376 Faye Throneberry RC
377 Chuck Dressen MG
378 Les Fusselman RC
379 Joe Rossi RC
380 Clem Koshorek RC
381 Milton Stock RC
382 Sam Jones RC
383 Del Wilber RC
384 Frankie Crosetti
385 Herman Franks RC
386 Eddie Yuhas RC
387 Billy Meyer MG
388 Bob Chipman
389 Ben Wade RC
390 Rocky Nelson RC
391 Ben Chapman
392 Hoyt Wilhelm RC
393 Ebba St. Claire RC
394 Billy Herman
395 Jake Pitler
396 Dick Williams RC
397 Forrest Main RC
398 Hal Rice
399 Jim Fridley RC
400 Bill Dickey
401 Bob Schultz RC
402 Earl Harrist RC
403 Bill Miller RC
404 Dick Brodowski RC
405 Eddie Pellagrini
406 Joe Nuxhall RC
407 Eddie Mathews RC
