Anyone here building a complete 1952 Topps set?

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by Zone91

Brianruns10

You have some nice cards for sure....the # 407 is tough!!! In what grade do you want to get the Mantle in?

I am kind of worried about the high numbers they seem to be selling for way more than what they are valued in the SMR.

I have been changing the amount of 52 Topps cards I own in my opening statement because I am currently buying some almost every day.

Post # 1

I think the Mathews is THE sleeper of the whole series. He is a perfect storm of rarity...single printed on the sheet. A HOFer. It's his one and true Rookie card, he was the last card in the set, meaning he comes up with the same problems as the Pafko in terms of wear and tear, and because of his location on the sheet (I suspect the corner) finding a truly centered example is practically a snipe hunt. The one I bought is dead centered on all sides, and I paid a healthy premium over SMR for it...and I don't regret it, as I've yet to see another like it come up on ebay or auction in the two years since I bought it.

As for the SMR, I use it, and I find int pretty handy. The trick is when buying any set, but especially the '52s, quality impacts the value. I've seen mediocre high number cards sell for significantly less than SMR. And I've seen dead centered ones go for almost double SMR. People will pay for that eye appeal that comes with a centered example, and as I've said elsewhere before, if I was offered the choice between a PSA 8 slightly off center, and a PSA 6 dead centered, each for the same price, I'd take the PSA 6 in a heartbeat.

As for the Mantle...I'm gonna hold out for a good one. I share the sentiments of many who feel it is an over-valued card, especially in the lower grades. I'm not a speculator looking to turn a quick profit, but should the need a arise, I want to be able to recoup my money, and I'd hope the card's values would keep pace at least with inflation. So you gotta go with quality, and when I buy the Mantle, it'll be a dead centered card, and I'm gonna aim for a PSA 6.

[Zone91]

Brianruns10

The 52 Topps Mantle to me is always going to be a good card I have been collecting cards mostly hockey since 1989 and the Mantle has always done well when it looks nice for the grade be it a PSA 1 or a PSA 10. I would not buy a ugly looking Mantle just to say I own one...that would be a bad move in my opinion for any collector.

People talk down on the Mantle sometimes (but those are the same people most of the time who would die to own one and can't afford it and simply wish the price went down so they could buy one...and truth be told Mantle has millions of fans that collect his cards...not to many players in ANY sport can claim that....OK maybe Babe Ruth) but truly Mantle is king of the post war cards and has always been....no new player will eclipse Mantle in popularity when it comes to card collecting...Barry Bonds has 762 home runs almost no one cares about him same can be said about 99,99% of the new players.

Your Matthew card is also a very good card to own again only if it looks nice for the grade like yours seems to be.

People ALMOST always talk down on cards deep down they most want....the nature of humans to try to get a deal!!! But the day a collector actually has one in his hands that he actually owns believe me that collector will be super proud to own the 52 Topps Mantle....that goes for 99,99% of collectors....and maybe 0,01% who are always unhappy no matter what good fortune happens in their life.

Post # 6

[ALR-bishop]

Boy do I ever hate that ugly 61 Mantle Dice card. Can not believe Bob and Larry would spend much on that thing

[Zone91]

ALR-bishop

Hahahaha same here God do I hate the T206 Plank card....truth be told I would love to own one of those babies and of course of of those 2 known Mantle cards as well!!!

Post # 8

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by Zone91

ALR-bishop

Hahahaha same here God do I hate the T206 Plank card....truth be told I would love to own one of those babies and of course of of those 2 known Mantle cards as well!!!

Post # 8

Good point. I would love to own the Plank, but it is rather ugly card in a beautiful set. I think it's apparent that some players received a little more care and attention than others when it came to the design of the card. Compare to the Honus Wagner, a premiere player of his day...the portrait is intricate and lovingly detailed, and it truly is a beautiful card to behold.

Now the '52 Mantle, while I think is a tad overpriced in the lower grades, is unmistakeable iconic, which is probably why it is so coveted. It transcends baseball to really be a piece of pop-art. It's pure Americana, right up there with the imagery of Norman Rockwell or Coca Cola. Simply gorgeous. Such a shame the original artwork wasn't preserved. THAT would be an extremely valuable item for sure.

[Zone91]

Brianruns10

I have decided to build the set in 5 grades: 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6 Just much easier to find a well centered card than only using 2 grades 4's and 5;s only.

Picked up 16 cards so far and 3 very nice high numbers all 3 VERY well centered....expensive do!!!

You are right the 52 Topps Mantle has become legendary and will remain so just to BIG to take a fall. Yes the original art may actually be somewhere but not sure...that would be worth most likely millions of dollars....way out of my league.

Post # 1

[ALR-bishop]

Why not 6.5 ?

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Boy do I ever hate that ugly 61 Mantle Dice card. Can not believe Bob and Larry would spend much on that thing

lol.

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Boy do I ever hate that ugly 61 Mantle Dice card. Can not believe Bob and Larry would spend much on that thing

Agreed. And, from what I recall, neither of them have the dice that goes with it. What's the point without that?