1953 TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
S y Berger once relayed in an interview that Topps had made significant improvements in image quality over the course of creating and issuing the 1952 set, so the use of paintings in 1953 seems odd. Legal woes with Bowman continued though, and abandoning photo-based cards seems an intentional workaround, but Topps still had to pull six cards once the player contracts were all sorted out. The set, issued in only a scant four series, ends at no. 280 but surviving original paintings indicate several more subjects were planned for inclusion. A noteworthy subject in the high numbers is Satchel (with an extra “l”) Paige, and the set is notorious for being very condition sensitive, thanks to partial graphic bleeds of the name blocks to the edges on two sides. Also of note is card no. 1 featuring Jackie Robinson, in which the background depicts a view of Topps Headquarters in Brooklyn, framed by the Gowanus Expressway overpass. There are a handful of other “easter eggs” sprinkled throughout that serve to act as advertisements for Topps.
91. 1953 Topps Five-Cent Wax Pack - PSA EX 5 MINIMUM BID: $7,000
92. 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle (HOF) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $2,000
93. 1953 Topps #104 Yogi Berra (HOF - Black Back) - PSA FR 1.5 MINIMUM BID: $50
90. 1953 Topps Cut Salesman Sample w/Red Schoendienst MINIMUM BID: $250
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