1953 Topps

Number of Cards

274 cards in this historical set with 13 Cubs players

Size of Cards

The size of the cards are 2-5/8 x 3-3/4 inches

Basic Features

The cards were designed using vibrant color paintings inspired by black and white photographs. Each card prominently displays a red or black rectangle that showcases the player's name, position, and team. The only additional design feature is a team emblem set within a colored geometric shape. While action shots were rare, most cards highlighted striking portraits of the players. These portraits were skillfully created by talented artists, including Gerry Dvorak, ensuring that every pose was flattering. Each card is truly a piece of art.

The reverse side of the cards features a striking red band at the top, displaying the player's name along with key statistics, essentially serving as a brief biography. In the upper left corner, the Topps logo and card number are integrated into a baseball-themed graphic. Each card prominently features a central paragraph that captures significant highlights from the player's career. On the left side of the lower section, player statistics are showcased, including last year's performance and overall career totals. The right side presents a "Dugout Quiz," which tests collectors' knowledge of baseball trivia, paired with a whimsical cartoon illustration that depicts various baseball scenes. This playful element has become a signature of Topps over the years and is one of my favorite features, contributing to the card set's reputation as one of the most desirable in baseball history.

Series

Series I: 1-85
Series 2: 86-165
Series 3: 266-220
Series 4: 221-280 (Scarce)

To ensure you don't purchase a counterfeit piece of history, always obtain a professionally graded card from a trusted seller. Graded cards are expected to appreciate significantly in value over time.

1953 Topps Chicago Cubs Checklist

Number		Player
23		Toby Atwell DP
29		Hal Jeffcoat
39		Eddie Miksis
46		Johnny Klippstein DP
92		Paul Minner DP
111		Hank Sauer DP
130		Turk Lown DP
144		Bob Schultz DP
155		Dutch Leonard
157		Bob Addis DP
173		Preston Ward
179		Gene Hermanski
202		Carl Sawatski RC

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The 1952 Topps baseball card set is the most popular sportscard set ever produced

To prevent purchasing a false piece of history, always get a professionally graded card from a recognized provider. In the future, graded cards will be significantly more valuable.

If you where going to start a Baseball card collection the 1952 Topps Would be it.
Measuring 2 5/8" x 3 3/4" (the standard size until 1957), the 1952 Topps issue was an innovation on both size and design. The larger size allowed for complete statistical data for each player to be printed on the reverse, the very first time this was ever done, and a tradition that continues today. The 407 card set was enormous at the time, making it the largest set if its day (surpassed in 1957 and subsequent years). Cards featured a bright and artistically drawn black and white photo on the front, with beautiful team logos adjacent to a facsimile autograph. This facsimile autograph would reappear in later Topps issues, but no set has yet recaptured the beauty of this classic set design.


PRINT RUN 1: Cards # 1-80 'Low Numbers'

Topps printed the cards on 100 card sheets. To get the first print run to 100 cards they 'double printed' 20 cards from the series. A Double Print is a card that was printed in double the quantity compared to the other cards in the same series.

The first run of 1952 Topps included all black backs. In the second wave of printing for the first series, The final wave of printing saw the debut of the red backs. Topps must have been selling the 1952 set well at the time, because there seems to be more red backs then black backs.

Cubs with the low numbers:
16 Gene Hermanski
35 Hank Sauer

PRINT RUN 2: Cards #81-131
These cards would start off with the red backs and that would be the norm for the rest of the prints.
50 single print, and 50 double print cards make up print run #2. and are probably the most common 1952 cards on the market today

Cubs with with print run 2
105 John Pramesa
110 Dutch Leonard
114 Willard Ramsdell
127 Paul Minner

PRINT RUN 3:Cards #131-190
These cards have the distinction of being printed using white and gray back cardboard.
20 single print cards and 40 double print cards.

Cubs with with print run 3
148 Johnny Klippstein
153 Bob Rush
157 Bob Usher
164 Walt Dubiel
172 Eddie Miksis
173 Roy Smalley
184 Bob Ramazzotti

PRINT RUN 4: Cards #191-250
All of the cards in this print run seem to have been printed in a similar fashion with few, if any, variance.
The 4th print run featured 20 single print cards and 40 double print cards. The 3rd and 4th print runs are plagued with paper chipping that leads to poor grades.

Cubs with with print run 4
194 Joe Hatten
204 Ron Northey
224 Bruce Edwards
225 Frank Baumholtz

PRINT RUN 5: Cards #251-310
contained numerous short print cards. Cards 281 through 300 of the print run actually carry a premium in some price guides.
Print run number 5 for the 1952 Topps set had 40 double print cards, and 20 single print cards
Cubs with with print run 5
259 Bob Addis
295 Phil Cavarretta

PRINT RUN 6: Cards #311-407 'High Numbers'

The most famous print run of 1952 Topps baseball is by far the sixth series. The run had 94 single print cards and 6 double print cards.

Topps issued this print run after the baseball season was over. Rumors are they were mostly sold in Canada. Topps had so many left over they even packed them onto a boat and dumped them into the Atlantic Ocean.

Because so many cards of the sixth series where destroyed,
they now carry a premium as they are the scarcer of all the series

Cubs with with print run 6
322 Randy Jackson
324 Warren Hacker
325 Bill Serena
330 Turk Lown
341 Hal Jeffcoat
348 Bob Kelly
356 Toby Atwell
359 Dee Fondy Jr
401 Bob Schultz

Chicago Cubs 1952 Topps Checklist

Number		Player
16		Gene Hermanski
16A		Gene Hermanski Black
35		Hank Sauer
35A		Hank Sauer Black
105		Johnny Pramesa
110		Dutch Leonard
114		Willard Ramsdell
127		Paul Minner RC
148		Johnny Klippstein
153		Bob Rush
157		Bob Usher
164		Walt Dubiel
172		Eddie Miksis
173		Roy Smalley
184		Bob Ramazzotti
194		Joe Hatten
204		Ron Northey
224		Bruce Edwards
225		Frank Baumholtz
259		Bob Addis RC
295		Phil Cavarretta SP
322		Randy Jackson RC
324		Warren Hacker
325		Bill Serena
330		Turk Lown RC
341		Hal Jeffcoat
348		Robert Kelly RC
356		Toby Atwell RC
359		Dee Fondy RC
401		Bob Schultz RC

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