1955 Armour COIN - Mickey Mantle (corrected) DARK-BLUE (Yankees)

The 1951 Red & Blue Back issues (52 cards each) were similar to a deck of cards and could be used to play a baseball card game. The sets left out all the game's stars and were not fan favorites keeping Bowman far ahead in the baseball card market.

In response, Topps issued their "BIGGER is BETTER" 1952 Topps set they described as: "GIANT IN BOTH SIZE and NUMBER of CARDS" (407).

Series one cards (#1-80) can be found with black or red backs. The key card in the 1952 Topps set is card #311 MICKEY MANTLE. It is often called Mickey Mantle's Rookie card but it is not. The honor goes to his 1951 Bowman card. The 1952 Topps set also featured my favorite and THE greatest player of all-time, WILLIE MAYS !!! Again, this is sometimes called Willie Mays' Rookie card but it is not. That honor also goes to his 1951 Bowman card.

Another 1952 Topps card of note is card #1 Andy Pafko. Pafko, a fine player, is basically just a "Common card" and should be worth no more than any other "Common" in the 1952 Topps set - But SURPRIZE !!! It's worth TONS more because it's card #1 and absorbed much more damage than most cards from rubber bands and other damage, thus high grade cards are very, very tough to find accounting for the super high values.
BUT --- That should not account for the super high asking prices on lower grade copies. THose prices do not make sense (supply and demand).

The 6th (last) series, starts with #311 Mickey Mantle and ends with #407 Braves Hall-of-Famer Eddie Mathews. These "High Numbers" are significantly scarcer and can almost be called rare. In addition to Mickey Mantle, other star High Numbers included #312 Jackie Robinson and #314 Roy Campanella.

The most common explanation for their scarcity is as follows.
This HUGE set was released in series weeks apart. When it came to the last series the baseball season was winding down and football was starting. Most candy store owners had boxes of baseball cards leftover from earlier in the year so most eliminated their orders for the 6th series of 1952 Topps thus creating the scarcity.

To add interest to the story, it is often said that the unsold 6th series cards (including THOUSANDS of 1952 Topps MICKEY MANTLEs !!!) were disposed of by Topps, dumped offshore into the Atlantic Ocean like most of New York's trash in those days.

Fleer's 1960 & 1961 baseball card issues were not huge successes. They were baseball card sets of old-timers like Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig ... but kids voted a big NO ! They wanted Willie Mays & Mickey Mantle. Fleer had to try something new ... COOKIES !!! Topps had exclusive rights to baseball cards with gum so Fleer packed cherry flavored cookies with their 1963 baseball cards.

The 1963 Fleer baseball card set planned to be larger but Topps lawsuit cut it short leaving just 66 cards plus a checklist.

But what 66 cards !!!   1963 Fleer cards are attractive & packed: also Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax ... plus 2 very scare Short Prints.

Maury Wills' Rookie card is an interesting story. In the majors since 1959, quickly became a superstar. So why 1963 for his rookie ??? Well, back in 1959 Topps deemed Wills NOT WORTHY enough to be on their baseball cards.

Wills was upset at the slight from Topps. After his 1962 MVP, Topps came a knocking but he said "NO !". No Topps cards ! Finally, in 1967 came a very scarce hi# Topps card, his first Topps and also most costly card. Adding interest, he had a 1961 Post Cereal card, years BEFORE his 'official' rookie. He also photo-bombed a 1960 Topps World Series card, trying to tag Luis Aparicio at 2nd.

Disclaimer: Above mostly true - but Wills has said, no feud, simply exclusive agreements.