1951 Topps Baseball
1952 Topps Vintage Review *See Below For 1951 Checklist* |
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1951 was the first time the Topps Company decided to try using baseball player cards to increase the sales of their caramel candy line. They were targeting kids, of course, so they decided to sell the cards in packs netting two cards for 0.01 cent. One of the unfortunate things for kids back in the 50's collecting 1951 Topps Baseball is that sometimes the caramel candy would melt inside the package and ruin the cards, and the candy as well. The 1951 Topps set is much different then the 1952 set. For one, the size. The '51 set has only 104 cards, while the '52 set is a 407 card masterpiece. The size of the cards themselves are very different. The 1952 are smaller then the normal card today, and the 1952 Topps are larger. One thing is for certain, while Topps was initially trying to use the cards as a way to promote their candy business, after the popularity of the 1951 Topps set, they began focusing on the cards as the main attraction when buying a pack, with the candy being a bonus. Here is the breakdown of the 1951 Topps Baseball Set: COMPLETE SET: 104 Cards Think of the '51 Topps set as a deck of playing cards. 2 sets of 52 cards making up the 104 card checklist.
    The key was to complete a 104 card set so that you could play the game associated with 1951 Topps Baseball. The front of the card would have an action like "ball" or "home run" and you could battle your friend in a contest to see who could out draw the other. The game didn't really catch on, and Topps went with a different approach in 1952, opting to use stats and biographical information. |
| SMALL CARD SIZE: (2 inches by 2-5/8 inches) The standard card size today is 2-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches, making the 1951 Topps set considerably smaller. The cards were meant to be shuffled and played with. The idea behind a smaller design was probably so that they would fit in a child's hand. BLUE BACKS ARE MORE SCARCE: The red backs and the blue backs came out at the same time, but for some reason the blue backs are much more difficult to find today. Check the link to see if any 1951 Topps cards are on eBay. |
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| 1951 Topps Red Back Checklist 1951 Blue Back Checklist |
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Yogi Berra Sid Gordon Ferris Fain Vern Stephens Phil Rizzuto Allie Reynolds Howie Pollet Early Wynn Roy Sievers Mel Parnell Gene Hermanski Jim Hegan Dale Mitchell Wayne Terwilliger Ralph Kiner Preacher Roe Gus Bell Jerry Coleman Dick Kokos Dom DiMaggio Larry Jansen Bob Feller Ray Boone Hank Bauer Cliff Chambers Luke Easter Wally Westlake Elmer Valo Bob Kennedy Warren Spahn Gil Hodges Hank Thompson Bill Werle Grady Hatton Al Rosen Gus Zernial Gus Zernial Wes Westrum Duke Snider Ted Kluszewski Mike Garcia Whitey Lockman Ray Scarborough Mickey McDermott Sid Hudson Andy Seminick Billy Goodman Tommy Glaviano Eddie Stanky Al Zarilla Monte Irvin Eddie Robinson Tommy Holmes Tommy Holmes |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 |
Eddie Yost Hank Majeski Richie Ashburn Del Ennis Johnny Pesky Red Schoendienst Jerry Staley Dick Sisler Johnny Sain Joe Page Johnny Groth Sam Jethroe Mickey Vernon Red Munger Eddie Joost Murry Dickson Roy Smalley Ned Garver Phil Masi Ralph Branca Billy Johnson Bob Kuzava Dizzy Trout Sherm Lollar Sam Mele Chico Carrasquel Andy Pafko Harry Brecheen Granny Hamner Enos Slaughter Lou Brissie Bob Elliott Don Lenhardt Earl Torgeson Tommy Byrne Cliff Fannin Bobby Doerr Irv Noren Ed Lopat Vic Wertz Johnny Schmitz Bruce Edwards Willie Jones Johnny Wyrostek Billy Pierce Jerry Priddy Herm Wehmeier Billy Cox Hank Sauer Johnny Mize Eddie Waitkus Sam Chapman |