Maybe the 52 Topps Highs did get dumped?

[irv]

Just finished watching this Sy Berger vid for the 1st time (great vid on 52's and other Topps cards) and near the end, up comes some questions about all the left over high number 52 Topps cards and what were done with them.

After reading some great threads, a while ago, about early hobbyists and their stores/shops and who had access to these cards, I also concluded the story was folklore but after watching this vid, from Sy Berger no less, I am more confused than ever?

I/one would/could conclude he likely isn't lying, but it does seem hard to believe that the high number cards were in short supply in the mid+ 50's if cases of these cards were just sitting in warehouse somewhere?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCstDCXoLSk

[toppcat]

I'll have to watch that later but I still think it's BS. They never did that with any other inventory and it would be more expensive to hire a scow than carter or just burning it. Don't forget excess 53s were carted and in addition Card Collectors Co was around by the time they would have been dumped.

[irv]

Originally Posted by toppcat

I'll have to watch that later but I still think it's BS. They never did that with any other inventory and it would be more expensive to hire a scow than carter or just burning it. Don't forget excess 53s were carted and in addition ard Collectors Co was around by the time they would have been dumped.

I'll never allude to knowing as much as you do, Toppcat, but this is right from the horse's mouth.

I assume it is a possibility that someone wanted to fabricate a story like this back in the day, but I find it hard to believe Sy would go along with that?

Like I mentioned in that other thread, I originally believed they were dumped as I had nothing else to go on nor to believe, but when someone had close proximity/access to them, as was mentioned in that other thread, it sure makes it hard to believe these weren't dumped until the 60's?

[toppcat]

Irv, sorry that may have come off as vitriolic which was not my intention. Sy got a lot of stuff wrong over the years, such as as the "taffy" going bad with the 51's, which I'm pretty sure was just PR spin to avoid saying they got shut down by Bowman. Why he continued to weave such tales well beyond the need to do so is beyond me. Most of the hobby lore surrounding the pre-1981 era of Topps is fabricated or hopelessly incorrect.

[ALR-bishop]

Maybe Sy had a little of what Brian Williams has. Or like Roger C said of Andy Pettite, he just misremembered

I am surprised no seller has yet tried to sell a beat to hell 52 Mantle reprint as having been recovered from the ocean floor

[7nohitter]

I've often wondered if there are any remnants on the ocean floor. Extreme long shot I would guess.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Irv, sorry that may have come off as vitriolic which was not my intention.

Its hard not to when you are the first person, everytime, to say the prices on highs were a marketing ploy from day one, and they aren't scarce. The whole community, if not 95% of those working on the set, would wholeheartedly disagree. Opinions are fine to have, but this isnt rhe first time you've jumped at the chance to discredit the story and scarcity of the high numbers.

[ALR-bishop]

I am of the opinion the 52 gray back Reisner is not scarce

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Its hard not to when you are the first person, everytime, to say the prices on highs were a marketing ploy from day one, and they aren't scarce. The whole community, if not 95% of those working on the set, would wholeheartedly disagree. Opinions are fine to have, but this isnt rhe first time you've jumped at the chance to discredit the story and scarcity of the high numbers.

Yeah, so?

[Volod]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Irv, sorry that may have come off as vitriolic which was not my intention. Sy got a lot of stuff wrong over the years, such as as the "taffy" going bad with the 51's, which I'm pretty sure was just PR spin to avoid saying they got shut down by Bowman. Why he continued to weave such tales well beyond the need to do so is beyond me. Most of the hobby lore surrounding the pre-1981 era of Topps is fabricated or hopelessly incorrect.

I'm siding with you, Dave. As someone who is ancient enough to have eaten that "taffy" back in '51, I can testify that it was so hard and impervious to teeth and saliva, it would probably be "edible" - that is, non-rancid - today. Sy's story telling could be an indication that he was prone to fudging (npi) or dramatizing stuff for the amusing effect it might have on listeners. Maybe that was his simple motive.

[toppcat]

Just watched the vid, which thanks for posting Irv, and which was the first time I've seen or heard Sy really talk about the mechanics of the garbage scow. Maybe there is more to it than I've thought previously and he did dump 1.3 million 52 highs. Or maybe he didn't as I still find it odd Topps actually spent the money on a tug & barge vs a straight up incineration as their MO was cheap, cheap, cheap all the time and why would you not trust an incinerator.

But there's still a boatload (pun intended) of them out there and I definitely think they were produced in roughly the same amounts as the semi-highs originally. Survival percentages are another story.

It's not hard to find them 65 years later, that's for sure. You might not like the pricing but they are out there.