Print run quantity of 1952 Topps, 1983 reprint set? And any other discussions about the issue.

gameusedhoop

Anyone have any info on the number of sets printed?

Also, imagine the $$ Topps could have made if they had released these in packs, especially racks. Remember this was when the competition between Topps, Fleer and Donruss was alive and well, with each issue eagerly awaited, and many test issues (most really BAD ideas), were filling the market. Just imagine what a sealed 72 pack rack case of 1952 Topps reprints would sell for today.

People who had collected them as kids in 1952 were about 50 years old at the time, and many had the $$ to re-live a piece of their childhood.

dmurphy3mvp

I wrote an article on this product in the December 2012 Beckett Baseball. My research found the print run was 10,000 sets, though the sets are not individually numbered.

gameusedhoop

Have a link to the article Reed? I'd love to read it.

Estil

Me too, I'd like to read it also.

dmurphy3mvp

BBCE writes an article on a "vintage" product for Beckett BB, FB, BK, HK every month, or just about every month, depending if we have the time to get one in before the deadline. "Vintage" pretty much means pre-2009 for me; I wouldn't want to write about a product I'm not too familiar with. The editors really want it under 500 words, so that doesn't leave us much to elaborate on. It's almost like an introductory article to the product. I'll be sure to bring the folder with all of our articles from the past year and a half to the National and have it on display in our booth.

Check out our Facebook page; I just posted the article there.

Gemyanks10

I didn't even know this set existed until a few years ago when I bought my first Beckett Almanac as I'm working on various 80's sets right now. The box looks very similar to the Topps Tiffany run that would start a year later. Once I started looking for a set to buy, it took me forever to find a box that was even in good shape. Most I saw on Ebay had torn corners, tears in the sides of the box, and also the seal broken. I couldn't believe how fragile the blue box was when it came in the mail. I kept mine sealed but I definitely want to start a raw set soon. These look awesome in binders. After reading the Beckett article on this set, I wonder how many sets out there are still untouched and unsearched and still in good shape? It also seems to me that they didn't cut some of these right. Centering seems to be a big problem also soft corners from the fragility of the box. Anyone else into this set?

Jimmy

totallyradd

I got two sets that belonged to my step dad after he passed away. One was sealed, and the other is missing 5-7 cards. None of which (that I recall) are any stars, Mantle is in there for sure. Not sure why those cards are gone. I need to go back and get them to get the set back to complete.

The sealed box I have is kinda worn around a corner, but the opened one is in great condition. Again, not sure why that would be.

Thought about getting the Mantle graded from the open set, but opted to just keep everything raw.

gameusedhoop

<< <i>One was sealed, and the other is missing 5-7 cards >>


There are 5 cards that weren't reprinted as Topps couldn't get the rights to reprint them from the players or their estates. A complete set is 402 cards, they are numbered to 407.
Missing are:
20 Billy Loes
22 Dom DiMaggio
159 Saul Rogovin
196 Solly Hemus
289 Tommy Holmes

totallyradd

Those names sound about right. I remember Dom Dimaggio for sure being part of those. Thanks for answering that for me!

Cokin75

There seems to be a lot more interest in these now then there was 30 years ago, for sure. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't these things considered a huge failure for a while after they came out? I could be mistaken, but they weren't an incredibly successful venture for Topps when they were produced.

Estil

Same goes for the Tiffany sets already mentioned. if I'm not mistaken they weren't taken all that seriously until the late 90s in light of the McGwire/Sosa HR chase.

F1ferrari

I remember the 1952 reprint set being advertised all over print magazines, and not just about baseball. I seem to remember tearing a page out of a Field and Stream or Reader's Digest at my doctor's office and begging my dad to buy one for my birthday present, and that would have been in '84 or '85. Fortunately, I ran across one a couple of years ago and now have the '52, '53, and '54 reprints tucked away.

Honestly, I think Topps could do well to complete the sets of 1950's reprints. I know we have Heritage, and I love them, but they have strayed away from the spirit of the actual years they are supposed to reflect. Once they hit 500 card sets, with the last 75 ALWAYS being the 'high numbers', it doesn't have the same feel when the original sets (1964 for example) had 587 cards with only 64 being the high numbers. Reprint the 1955 set, release them in packs, and see what happens.

bigdogparty

I remember as a kid, one of my good friends had this set. We both thought it was cool to look at the old cards. Of course the set was open but still kept in the box.

RipublicaninMass

They released the 53 reprint set in packs (archives)with added cards and it really bombed.