The 1952 Topps baseball card set is one of the most coveted issues in the hobby. It was only the second series of modern cardboard collectibles produced by Topps, following their successful debut in 1951. What makes the ’52s truly stand out is the simple fact that they are the earliest Topps cards to feature player photos on the back, known today by enthusiasts as the “black back” design.
Prior to 1952, card backs were mainly used for advertisements or filler text. Topps took the extra step with their second series to include black and white images of the athletes on the reverse. This added so much more value and visual appeal compared to previous plain backs. While rudimentary by today’s standards, these snapshots gave young collectors of the time more to enjoy about their baseball idols. It helped spark Topps on their path to becoming the dominant trading card manufacturer.
The ’52s took the industry to new heights with their photograph inclusion but production values were still rather basic. The 102 card standard set utilized a simple white border design with blue team name guide across the top. Players are shown from waist up in action poses. Information provided is basic stats from 1951 or prior seasons. Card stock was of lower quality “glossy” paper compared to later cardboard. It all added to the charm of these early pioneering cardboard pieces of Americana.
One of the big stars featured in the ’52 Topps set was Dodgers’ ace Don Newcombe. “Newk” had won the NL MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in 1949 following Jackie Robinson’s debut. He captured the Cy Young in 1956. Newcombe’s card shows him pitching for Brooklyn with a serious determined facial expression. His stats on the front list a 27-7 record and 3.17 ERA from 1951, a season interrupted by military service. On the back is a headshot of the hurler in a more relaxed smile.
Rookie sensations like the Giants’ Bobby Thomson and the Indians’ Early Wynn had memorable first Topps cards in ’52 as well. Thomson is depicted batting left-handed with stats from 1951 when he hit .271 in his initial MLB campaign. The back of his card features a clear image of the “Bobby” on his jersey. As for Early Wynn, the future 300 game winner is portrayed wind-up to pitch with stats noting a 7-5 record as a 21-year-old in 1951. On the reverse is a mustachioed photo of the young fireballer beaming.
The 1952 Topps set is also notable for including many stars of baseball’s “Golden Era” who were in their primes at the time like Robin Roberts, Roy Campanella, Hank Greenberg, and Ted Williams. Future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Hank Aaron also made their cardboard coming out party with impressive rookie cards. The designs may seem quaint 70 years later but they captured all the talent and moments that defined 1950s baseball for children to discover and collect.
One of the more challenging aspects of collecting the iconic ’52s today is the condition of the 70 year old cards. Topps’ early adhesive and card stock was quite unstable compared to later improvements. As a result, many examples have serious creasing, edges worn away, or stuck together clumps. Still, even damaged ’52s remain quite desirable due to their historical importance. PSA/BGS graded gem mint 10 specimens can sell for five-figure sums. More affordable options are lower graded copies in the $100-500 range depending on the particular player featured.
An exciting recent discovery in the collecting world was the 2016 unearthing of approximately 100 mint 1952 Topps cards that were lost, untouched in a Pennsylvania attic for decades. Included were near pristine copies of star rookies like Mays, Mantle, and Aaron. At auction, the forgotten ’52 stash revealed just how prized these black back pioneers of the modern baseball card era truly are today. Their rarity, condition, and place in the development of Topps as the sport’s greatest card maker all contribute to their six-figure valuation at the highest levels of preservation.
The 1952 Topps baseball card set was an incredible leap forward thanks to its pioneering use of image inclusion on the back. While crude by our current standards, those black back photos helped spark a hobby and brought the players to life in new ways for kids of the post-war era. Even in worn condition, these cards remain highly collectible and desirable pieces of pop culture memorabilia over 70 years later. The stars and designs are imprinted in baseball card history forever.
