1952 Bowman

1952 Bowman Baseball Set Details

Although 1951 Bowman is generally viewed as one of the top sets of the post-war era, 1952 Bowman Baseball does not enjoy the same reputation. However, given that the design was largely carried over, the cards still look great. Again featuring art reproductions of black-and-white photos, the main difference is that the text box has been replaced with a facsimile signature. Card sizing carries over from 1951 at 2-1/16" by 3-1/8".

 

1952 Bowman Baseball backs are also similar to the 1951 release, but more space is devoted to the ad, and there is a premium offer. Basic info and stats are included for each player above the ad that offers a "baseball cap of your favorite team" in exchange for five wrappers and 50 cents.

It's not that 1952 Bowman Baseball is a poor release. In fact, it is far from that and many of the cards are quite impressive thanks to the vivid colors. Still, several factors contribute to the slightly diminished interest in the set. The most obvious detriment is the powerhouse 1952 Topps product of the same season. After a few years on top of the collecting world, Bowman quickly found themselves chasing Topps, and it began in 1952.

Another issue for 1952 Bowman Baseball is the decreased set size, going from 324 cards in 1951 to 252 cards in 1952. This diminished lineup is even more apparent compared to the 407-card set from 1952 Topps. It was not just lesser players that were removed from the checklist. '52 Bowman also left out a few big names, most notably Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams. Finally, while it cannot really be blamed on Bowman, the lack of Hall of Fame rookie cards is also an issue.

Still, the 1952 Bowman Baseball checklist packs some power. Loaded with Hall of Fame players, the set does offer a few popular names that 1952 Topps missed. This includes Stan Musial, Casey Stengel and Ralph Kiner. Also, while 1952 Topps is filled with errors and variations, that was not really an issue in Bowman. The only known variation is for Bill Werle. The card (#248) can be found with and without the "W" in his signature.