1951 Bowman Set (Baseball)

Set Notes

<

Excerpt

The cards in this 324-card set measure approximately 2 1/16" by 3 1/8". Many of the obverses of the cards appearing in the 1951 Bowman set are enlargements of those appearing in the previous year. The high number series (253-324) is highly valued and contains the true 'Rookie' cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Card number 195 depicts Paul Richards in caricature. George Kell's card (number 46) incorrectly lists him as being in the '1941' Bowman series. Cards were issued in either one card penny packs which came 120 to the box or in six-card nickel packs which came 24 to a box.

More set notes

This 132-card standard-size set focuses on promising rookies, new managers, free agents, and players who changed teams. The set also includes 22 members of Team USA. The set has the same design on the front as the regular 1993 Topps issue. The backs are also the same design and carry a head shot, biography, stats and career highlights. Rookie Cards in this set include Todd Helton.

The cards in this 752-card set measure 2 1/2" by 3 1/2". The 1971 Topps set is a challenge to complete in strict mint condition because the black obverse border is easily scratched and damaged. An unusual feature of this set is that the player is also pictured in black and white on the back of the card. Featured subsets within this set include League Leaders (61-72), Playoffs cards (195-202) and World Series cards (327-332). Cards 524-623 and the last series (644-752) are somewhat scarce. The last series was printed in two sheets of 132.

The cards in this 787-card set measure 2 1/2" by 3 1/2". The 1972 Topps set contained the most cards ever for a Topps set to that point in time. Features appearing for the first time were 'Boyhood Photos' (341-348, 491-498), Awards and Trophy cards (621-626), 'In Action' (distributed throughout the set), and 'Traded Cards' (751-757). Other subsets included League Leaders (85-96), Playoff cards (221-222), and World Series cards (223-230). The curved lines of the color picture are a departure from the rectangular designs of other years.

The cards in this 660-card set measure 2 1/2" by 3 1/2". The 1973 Topps set marked the last year in which Topps marketed baseball cards in consecutive series. The last series (529-660), is more difficult to obtain. In some parts of the country, however, all five series were distributed together. Beginning in 1974, all Topps cards were printed at the same time, thus eliminating the 'high number' factor. The set features team leader cards with small individual pictures of the coaching staff members and a larger picture of the manager.

The cards in this 407-card set measure approximately 2 1/2" by 3 1/2". Topps returned to the vertical obverse, adopted what we now call the standard card size, and used a large, uncluttered colo photo for the first time since 1952. Cards in the series 265 to 352 and the unnumbered checklist cards are scarcer than other cards in the set. However, within this scarce series (265-362) there are 22 cards which were printed in double the quantity of the other cards in the series; these 22 double prints are indicated by DP in the Beckett checklists.

Brand

Type