1952 Bowman Baseball Cards
Product Details
Somewhat overlooked when compared to the immense popularity of 1952 Topps, 1952 Bowman Baseball remains an appealing vintage option and is a more affordable way to collect the players of the '52 season.
Just like the competing brand from Topps, the key Bowman cards include options for Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.
See also: 1951 Bowman Baseball Cards
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.
Similar to many other vintage releases, 1952 Bowman Baseball suffers from centering issues and mis-cut cards. Also, because the cards were distributed in six-card and one-card gum packs, staining can be a problem.
Key Cards
Key 1952 Bowman Baseball Cards To Collect
Shop for singles or check completed sales prices using the eBay links.
#101 Mickey Mantle
#218 Willie May
#1 Yogi Berra
#196 Stan Musial
#44 Roy Campanella
#156 Warren Spahn
#8 Pee Wee Reese
Set Checklist
1952 Bowman Baseball Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 Bobby Thomson - New York Giants
3 Fred Hutchinson - Detroit Tigers
4 Robin Roberts - Philadelphia Phillies
5 Minnie Minoso - Chicago White Sox RC
6 Virgil Stallcup - Cincinnati Reds
7 Mike Garcia - Cleveland Indians
8 Pee Wee Reese - Brooklyn Dodgers
9 Vern Stephens - Boston Red Sox
10 Bob Hooper - Philadelphia Athletics
11 Ralph Kiner - Pittsburgh Pirates
12 Max Surkont - Boston Braves RC
13 Cliff Mapes - Detroit Tigers
14 Cliff Chambers - St. Louis Cardinals
15 Sam Mele - Washington Senators
16 Turk Lown - Chicago Cubs RC
17 Ed Lopat - New York Yankees
18 Don Mueller - New York Giants
19 Bob Cain - St. Louis Browns
20 Willie Jones - Philadelphia Phillies
21 Nellie Fox - Chicago White Sox
22 Willard Ramsdell - Chicago Cubs
23 Bob Lemon - Cleveland Indians
24 Carl Furillo - Brooklyn Dodgers
25 Maurice McDermott - Boston Red Sox
26 Eddie Joost - Philadelphia Athletics
27 Joe Garagiola - Pittsburgh Pirates
28 Roy Hartsfield - Boston Braves
29 Ned Garver - St. Louis Browns
30 Red Schoendienst - St. Louis Cardinals
31 Eddie Yost - Washington Senators
32 Eddie Miksis - Chicago Cubs
33 Gil McDougald - New York Yankees RC
34 Alvin Dark - New York Giants
35 Granny Hamner - Philadelphia Phillies
36 Cass Michaels - Washington Senators
37 Vic Raschi - New York Yankees
38 Whitey Lockman - New York Giants
39 Vic Wertz - Detroit Tigers
40 Bubba Church - Philadelphia Phillies
41 Chico Carrasquel - Chicago White Sox
42 Johnny Wyrostek - Cincinnati Reds
43 Bob Feller - Cleveland Indians
44 Roy Campanella - Brooklyn Dodgers
45 Johnny Pesky - Boston Red Sox
46 Carl Scheib - Philadelphia Athletics
47 Pete Castiglione - Pittsburgh Pirates
48 Vern Bickford - Boston Braves
49 Jim Hearn - New York Giants
50 Jerry Staley - St. Louis Cardinals
51 Gil Coan - Washington Senators
52 Phil Rizzuto - New York Yankees
53 Richie Ashburn - Philadelphia Phillies
54 Billy Pierce - Chicago White Sox
55 Ken Raffensberger - Cincinnati Reds
56 Clyde King - Brooklyn Dodgers
57 Clyde Vollmer - Boston Red Sox
58 Hank Majeski - Philadelphia Athletics
59 Murry Dickson - Pittsburgh Pirates
60 Sid Gordon - Boston Braves
61 Tommy Byrne - St. Louis Browns
62 Joe Presko - St. Louis Cardinals RC
63 Irv Noren - Washington Senators
64 Roy Smalley - Chicago Cubs
65 Hank Bauer - New York Yankees
66 Sal Maglie - New York Giants
67 Johnny Groth - Detroit Tigers
68 Jim Busby - Chicago White Sox
69 Joe Adcock - Cincinnati Reds
70 Carl Erskine - Brooklyn Dodgers
71 Vern Law - Pittsburgh Pirates
72 Earl Torgeson - Boston Braves
73 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees
74 Wes Westrum - New York Giants
75 George Kell - Detroit Tigers
76 Del Ennis - Philadelphia Phillies
77 Eddie Robinson - Chicago White Sox
78 Lloyd Merriman - Cincinnati Reds
79 Lou Brissie - Cleveland Indians
80 Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers
81 Billy Goodman - Boston Red Sox
82 Gus Zernial - Philadelphia Athletics
83 Howie Pollet - Pittsburgh Pirates
84 Sam Jethroe - Boston Braves
85 Marty Marion - St. Louis Browns
86 Cal Abrams - Brooklyn Dodgers
87 Mickey Vernon - Washington Senators
88 Bruce Edwards - Chicago Cubs
89 Billy Hitchcock - Philadelphia Athletics
90 Larry Jansen - New York Giants
91 Don Kolloway - Detroit Tigers
92 Eddie Waitkus - Philadelphia Phillies
93 Paul Richards - Chicago White Sox
94 Luke Sewell - Cincinnati Reds
95 Luke Easter - Cleveland Indians
96 Ralph Branca - Brooklyn Dodgers
97 Willard Marshall - Boston Braves
98 Jimmie Dykes - Philadelphia Athletics
99 Clyde McCullough - Pittsburgh Pirates
100 Sibby Sisti - Boston Braves
101 Mickey Mantle - New York Yankees
102 Peanuts Lowrey - St. Louis Cardinals
103 Joe Haynes - Washington Senators
104 Hal Jeffcoat - Chicago Cubs
105 Bobby Brown - New York Yankees
106 Randy Gumpert - Boston Red Sox
107 Del Rice - St. Louis Cardinals
108 George Metkovich - Pittsburgh Pirates
109 Tom Morgan - New York Yankees RC
110 Max Lanier - New York Giants
111 Walter Evers - Detroit Tigers
112 Smoky Burgess - Philadelphia Phillies
113 Al Zarilla - Chicago White Sox
114 Frank Hiller - Cincinnati Reds RC
115 Larry Doby - Cleveland Indians
116 Duke Snider - Brooklyn Dodgers
117 Bill Wight - Boston Red Sox
118 Ray Murray - Philadelphia Athletics RC
119 Bill Howerton - Pittsburgh Pirates
120 Chet Nichols - Boston Braves RC
121 Al Corwin - New York Giants RC
122 Billy Johnson - St. Louis Cardinals
123 Sid Hudson - Washington Senators
124 Birdie Tebbetts - Cleveland Indians
125 Howie Fox - Philadelphia Phillies
126 Phil Cavarretta - Chicago Cubs
128 Don Newcombe - Brooklyn Dodgers
129 Gus Niarhos - Boston Red Sox
130 Allie Clark - Philadelphia Athletics
131 Bob Swift - Detroit Tigers
132 Dave Cole - Boston Braves RC
133 Dick Kryhoski - St. Louis Browns
134 Al Brazle - St. Louis Cardinals
135 Mickey Harris - Washington Senators
136 Gene Hermanski - Chicago Cubs
137 Stan Rojek - St. Louis Browns
138 Ted Wilks - Pittsburgh Pirates
139 Jerry Priddy - Detroit Tigers
140 Ray Scarborough - Boston Red Sox
141 Hank Edwards - Cincinnati Reds
142 Early Wynn - Cleveland Indians
143 Sandy Consuegra - Washington Senators
144 Joe Hatten - Chicago Cubs
145 Johnny Mize - New York Yankees
146 Leo Durocher - New York Giants
147 Marlin Stuart - Detroit Tigers RC
148 Ken Heintzelman - Philadelphia Phillies
149 Howie Judson - Chicago White Sox
150 Herm Wehmeier - Cincinnati Reds
151 Al Rosen - Cleveland Indians
152 Billy Cox - Brooklyn Dodgers
153 Fred Hatfield - Boston Red Sox RC
154 Ferris Fain - Philadelphia Athletics
155 Billy Meyer - Pittsburgh Pirates
156 Warren Spahn - Boston Braves
157 Jim Delsing - St. Louis Browns
158 Bucky Harris - Washington Senators
159 Dutch Leonard - Chicago Cubs
160 Eddie Stanky - St. Louis Cardinals
161 Jackie Jensen - Washington Senators
162 Monte Irvin - New York Giants
163 Johnny Lipon - Detroit Tigers
164 Connie Ryan - Philadelphia Phillies
165 Saul Rogovin - Chicago White Sox RC
166 Bobby Adams - Cincinnati Reds
167 Bobby Avila - Cleveland Indians
168 Preacher Roe - Brooklyn Dodgers
169 Walt Dropo - Boston Red Sox
170 Joe Astroth - Philadelphia Athletics
171 Mel Queen - Pittsburgh Pirates
172 Ebba St. Claire - Boston Braves RC
173 Gene Bearden - St. Louis Browns
174 Mickey Grasso - Washington Senators
175 Ransom Jackson - Chicago Cubs RC
176 Harry Brecheen - St. Louis Cardinals
177 Gene Woodling - New York Yankees
178 Dave Williams - New York Giants RC
179 Pete Suder - Philadelphia Athletics
180 Ed Fitz Gerald - Pittsburgh Pirates
181 Joe Collins - New York Yankees RC
182 Dave Koslo - New York Giants
183 Pat Mullin - Detroit Tigers
184 Curt Simmons - Philadelphia Phillies
185 Bud Stewart - Chicago White Sox
186 Frank Smith - Cincinnati Reds RC
187 Jim Hegan - Cleveland Indians
188 Chuck Dressen - Brooklyn Dodgers
189 Jim Piersall - Boston Red Sox
190 Dick Fowler - Philadelphia Athletics
191 Bob Friend - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
192 John Cusick - Boston Braves RC
193 Bobby Young - St. Louis Browns RC
194 Bob Porterfield - Washington Senators
195 Frank Baumholtz - Chicago Cubs
196 Stan Musial - St. Louis Cardinals
197 Charlie Silvera - New York Yankees RC
198 Chuck Diering - New York Giants
199 Ted Gray - Detroit Tigers
200 Ken Silvestri - Philadelphia Phillies
201 Ray Coleman - Chicago White Sox
202 Harry Perkowski - Cincinnati Reds RC
203 Steve Gromek - Cleveland Indians
204 Andy Pafko - Brooklyn Dodgers
205 Walt Masterson - Boston Red Sox
206 Elmer Valo - Philadelphia Athletics
207 George Strickland - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
208 Walker Cooper - Boston Braves
209 Dick Littlefield - Detroit Tigers RC
210 Archie Wilson - Washington Senators RC
211 Paul Minner - Chicago Cubs RC
212 Solly Hemus - St. Louis Cardinals RC
213 Monte Kennedy - New York Giants
214 Ray Boone - Cleveland Indians
215 Sheldon Jones - Boston Braves
216 Matt Batts - Detroit Tigers
217 Casey Stengel - New York Yankees
218 Willie Mays - New York Giants
219 Neil Berry - Detroit Tigers
220 Russ Meyer - Philadelphia Phillies
221 Lou Kretlow - Chicago White Sox RC
222 Homer Howell - Cincinnati Reds
223 Harry Simpson - Cleveland Indians RC
224 Johnny Schmitz - Brooklyn Dodgers
225 Del Wilber - Boston Red Sox RC
226 Alex Kellner - Philadelphia Athletics
227 Clyde Sukeforth - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
228 Bob Chipman - Boston Braves
229 Hank Arft - St. Louis Browns
230 Spec Shea - Washington Senators
231 Dee Fondy - Chicago Cubs RC
232 Enos Slaughter - St. Louis Cardinals
233 Bob Kuzava - New York Yankees
234 Freddie Fitzsimmons - New York Giants
235 Steve Souchock - Detroit Tigers RC
236 Tommy Brown - Chicago Cubs
237 Sherm Lollar - Chicago White Sox
238 Roy McMillan - Cincinnati Reds RC
239 Dale Mitchell - Cleveland Indians
240 Billy Loes - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
241 Mel Parnell - Boston Red Sox
242 Everett Kell - Philadelphia Athletics RC
243 Red Munger - Pittsburgh Pirates
244 Lew Burdette - Boston Braves RC
245 George Schmees - St. Louis Browns RC
246 Jerry Snyder - Washington Senators RC
247 John Pramesa - Chicago Cubs
248 Bill Werle - St. Louis Cardinals
249 Hank Thompson - New York Giants
250 Ivan Delock - Boston Red Sox RC
251 Jack Lohrke - Philadelphia Phillies
252 Frankie Crosetti - New York Yankees
Base Variations Set Checklist
Hot Auctions
Hottest 1952 Bowman Baseball Cards Auction List
Here are the real-time rankings of the most popular 1952 Bowman Baseball cards currently being sold on eBay at auction:
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Roger Ponds
This is an update from my previous posting on March 26, 2020, regarding the 1952 Bowman set. I was able to add the 12 cards I was missing from the ’52 Bowman, by shopping on eBay, starting this past summer (2022). I added the ’52 Bowman card of Yogi Berra (#1) and Mickey Mantle (#101), the last card I needed to add to complete the 1952 Bowman set. I never thought I would eventually complete the 1952 Bowman set, but I finally managed to do it this past summer. Hurray!!