1954 Topps Baseball Cards
The 1954 Topps set was the first one which featured 2 photos on the card fronts. This is a very popular set and is still in high demand among today`s collectors. The set had a total of 250 different cards and was a little smaller than past Topps sets. Although it had less cards, the cards it had included some stunners.
We're talking true champion legends such as Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford. The greats it lacked were Mantle, Campanella and Pee Wee Reese. They all had exclusive contracts with Bowman. Whatever is lost by not having that trio is almost made up for by the two, count em, 2 (!) Ernie Banks cards.
The cards featuring the `splendid splinter were the bookends of set, as Williams had the first card, and the last card of the set. The '54 set also included some outstanding rookie cards for Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Al Kaline, and Tommy Lasorda. The cards for this set were originally sold in wax packs which included between 1 and 5 cards.
The number 1-50 cards were printed on gray cardboard in Canada, but white cardboard elsewhere. An authentic full master set would have to include the 250 regular cards and the variations from Canada. The cardboard color is the only variation known to be a part of this set.
The cards had a white border along 3 side of the card but now border along the top. Collectors often notice this odd border design and think the cards are miscut, but that is the way they were all issued. Another unique aspect about the cards of this set is that the layout featured a head and an action shot of the player.
This was the first time a card with that type of design had been seen, but it continues to be the way many cards are laid out even today. The colorful nature of the cards is another thing that makes them standouts. The use of a black and white action shot with a color head shot was a new concept.
A facsimile autograph printed across the bottom of the card is a feature that hadn't been seen since the '52 series, but it was back too. The card backs displayed a series of cartoon panels containing bio and playing career stats. There are no scarce high number cards in this set, which sets it apart from most other Topps sets issued before 1974.
Although the set lacked a huge number of the most popular players, it did include 17 coach cards and 4 manager cards. This set was the one and only Topps baseball card appearance for a total of 25 players and coaches. There were another 54 players for whom this set was their debut appearance on a Topps card.
It is also interesting that although the set featured a number of top rookies, the actual rookies of the year Bob Grim and Wally Moon were not in the set. There are a few error cards from the 1954 Topps set. The #14 Preacher Roe card lists shows his birthday being in February, the #19 Johnny Lipon card shows him playing for Baltimore on the front, but Chicago on the back, and the #178 card misspells Billy Glynn`s name as Gylnn.
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