1952 Topps Baseball Card # 182 Billy Hitchcock - Philadelphia Athletics (VG/EX)

Description: 1952 Topps Baseball Card # 182 Billy Hitchcock - Philadelphia Athletics (VG/EX)1950-1959 Baseball CardsOther decades may have produced more valuable cards, but 1950s baseball cards are arguably the most iconic and sought-after vintage cards in the entire hobby. At times, they seemed more like art than simply sports cards. Vivid colors and beautiful images filled checklists with names that now populate Cooperstown. As the country moved on after World War II, this would become the Renaissance period for baseball cards. A dominant figure throughout much of baseball card history, Topps released their first baseball product in 1951 and would not look back. While the later years of the 1950s and beyond were owned by Topps, they got a serious fight from Bowman in the early 1950s.Although there are many great options from this decade, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, and 1954 Topps have separated themselves from the pack. Top rookie card offering from this decade include Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Matthews, and Bob Gibson.1952 Topps Baseball CardsIt’s no exaggeration to say that 1952 Topps Baseball is a landmark baseball card set. The first major baseball card product from Topps, it includes the iconic ’52 Mickey Mantle card.Product DetailsManufactured by the Topps Gum Company, 1952 Topps Baseball is considered by many collectors and baseball historians to be the most important post-war baseball card set ever produced.The game-changing 1952 Topps series offers the iconic Mickey Mantle card and so much more.1952 Topps Baseball Set DetailsThe vision of Sy Berger and designer Woody Gelman, '52 Topps ultimately earned Berger the nickname, " The Father of Modern Baseball Cards." The 407-card set was the largest ever produced at the time of its release.History in the MakingRepresenting a complete turnaround from the company's ill conceived product and design concept the prior year, the 1952 Topps Baseball set laid the foundation for what would become the modern trading card. In addition to the larger checklist, the design of the cards themselves featured full team logos, colorized black-and-white photography and most interestingly, a facsimile signature of the player taken directly from their player contract with Topps.In addition, card backs featured statistics and biographical information about the players, a component that would become very important in helping to connect the depicted players with their targeted market, children. Many collectors can attest to the fact that the backs of trading cards not only helped them learn about their favorite players, but also made rudimentary educational skills like reading and math a fun and tangible part of their collecting experience.As was common at the time, the 1952 Topps Baseball set was produced in six different series. Conscientious of costs, Topps would produce the later series cards in a much shorter quantity due to kids returning to school, the baseball season ending and sports fans attention turning to football. In an effort to bolster sales, it was also customary to hold back the production of some popular players until a later series. As a result of this practice, the key card in the set and by far the most valuable and recognizable is the Mickey Mantle card, which appears as #311 on the checklist. Of course, the Mickey Mantle rookie card arrived in 1951 Bowman Baseball. The Perfect Storm When the hobby went through its resurgence in the 1980s, it was this set and the Mickey Mantle card that helped spark the era of over-production. This came about as a direct result of economic conditions faced by Americans at the onset of the 1980s. Wealthy individuals began to hedge their assets from hyper-inflation by investing in tangible goods like gold, art, and yes, even baseball cards. When Mickey Mantle cards in mint condition hit the auction circuit and saw realized prices of tens of thousands of dollars, it seemed everyone wanted to be the one to cash in on "the next" Mickey Mantle. As most collectors know, the perfect storm that resulted never really panned out to anyone's expectations. Folklore and Legends No one but the Yankees' scouting department could foresee just what a legendary figure "The Mick" would become, not even the set's architect, Sy Berger. It's been long said that Berger, stuck with several unsold pallets of high-numbered series cases, dumped the cards into the Hudson River with a forklift. This disturbing fact haunts collectors to this day, knowing that one of the most valuable baseball cards ever made likely has several dozen examples entombed in a watery grave. Distributed in packs of five cards for a nickel, it's amazing to think that at one time, these pieces of cardboard treasure cost just a penny per card. The simple nostalgia that is generated by this set of baseball cards stretches well beyond heavily invested veterans of the hobby. With its iconic design and deep checklist of some of the game's all-time greats, 1952 Topps Baseball cards have come to define not just an era of collecting but a simpler time in American history. Transcending sports, many of the players depicted in the set became true icons of pop culture during the 1950s. A Closer Look While scarcity, condition and desirability are all primary factors that account for the popularity and value of 1952 Topps Baseball, other issues play into and account for its longstanding appeal. Filled with oddities unique to the set, variations of several different cards exist giving rise to an even more intricate chase for master set collectors. For example, due to these variations that include several different printing errors, the 1952 Topps master set pushes well past the 407-card base lineup. Many of the variations are in such short supply that it is almost impossible to accomplish this enormous task. Some of the nuances are easily spotted, as is the case with the Series 1 cards (#1 to #80), which were issued with black backs or red backs, and #131 to #190, which can be found with either white backs or gray backs. Others aren't as easily noticeable. Take, for instance, Frank Campos' card (#307). Just below the stats, towards the bottom of the card, the typical red star to the right of the words "Topps Baseball" was printed in black. A minuscule difference, but the card is considered a legitimate variation nonetheless. Other valuable 1952 Topps Baseball variations include the error cards for Joe Page and Johnny Sain. The bio portion of the card backs mixed up the two former players, but there is a more common version for each that features the correct backs. Overall, there are many variations in the large set. As a result, you could write an entire book on the subject. Not even the venerable Mickey Mantle card escaped the gremlins of the Topps printing presses. His card variation includes the following identifiers: darker skin tone, a white printing dot alongside the left border, no black border around the Yankees logo, and the last "E" in his signature ends with the line pointing down.How We Grade: Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks. Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund. Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.Please see all of our other ads & visit our store for some great deals on both New & Vintage cards, comics and more.Get your copy of the DC Rebirth or the All New, All Different Marvel Series before they are gone!Yes! 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Price: 54.95 USD

Location: Madison, Alabama

End Time: 2024-12-30T06:00:58.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD