This is only semi-related to the discussion here but as I wrote recently on my blog, Irwin Hasen of Dondi fame was noted by the Card Collectors Co.to have done the illustrations for the 1955 Topps baseball reverses. Looking at the 1954 artworks, its seems possible to me he drew the earlier year as well as they style looks a lot like his.
http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/20...-new-info.html