1952 Topps Baseball and it is official as the last piece of the puzzle is in place.

 Before I start discussing the 1952 Topps Baseball cards I want to say that yesterday's mail for autographs was only one it was a very important one for completing the set. That little tidbit will be saving the Best for last.

As many know the 1952 Topps is probably one of the most popular and the key card on many collector's want list is card #311, along with many other greats of that era. The beauty of these cards is the cards resemble lithograph coloring. The high numbers are somewhat difficult as well and some key cards are double printed. The Mantle card is probably as common as some of the other common cards from this set as it was printed in the final sixth series and was the first card of this series 311-407. The six series were printed like this.

Series 1 1-80

Series 2 81-130

Series 3 131-190

Series 4 191-250

Series 5 251-310

Series 6 311-407

The Mantle card being double printed was as plentiful as any of the other high numbered cards from series 6 but it's popularity among collectors makes it a must want. The rich coloring with the dark blue background along with the bat's yellow glow is key in making this card so popular but rare actually depends on what each of us believes.

This card is the 1952 Topps card of Andy Pafko and this card is number 1. The first and last card in a set usually is difficult to find in a high grade because kids would use rubber bands to keep the cards in place as they stacked them and usually the first card and last card in the set received more damages as the weight caused by the band pulled on the cards sides and sometimes the elastic band caused marks on the cards.

This card is the 1952 Topps cards number 407 and is the last card in the set and another high number making this card very popular with collectors as a key card and as indicated with the Pafko card number 1 it is not found in high grades as often which adds more of a premium. Still this card is one of my favorite 1952 Topps cards.

This card is the 1952 Topps card of Wille Mays and is from series 5 card number 261. Whenever I see this card of Willie I always see him as looking as if he is upset about something. Another card favorite with collectors as Willie went on to have a great Hall of Fame career.

This card is the 1952 Topps card of Joe Garagiola and this is my favorite card of the '52 Topps cards. The nice smile on his face with the lighter color of a red background. Joe played 9 seasons the the Majors as a catcher and he went on to win the 1946 World Series over the Boston Red Sox. Joe is inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame as a Broadcaster. I always enjoyed his broadcasts as you could just hear his voice and you instantly knew it was Joe behind the mic.

As I said in the beginning of this post I had finally finished completing a set of cards by finally landing the Sue Merz autograph as it came in yesterday's mail. I now have completed another key set of cards having all 20 players cards autographed.

There she is and as I have said before as an autograph collector I have a routine I do daily except for Sundays. I am usually up early around 5 A.M. and I go and check my mail first seeing if I have any autographs cards coming through the mail. I always keep a journal of the players I send too and when I saw the postmark I thought could it finally be over, is this the final autograph I have been after for the last 5+ years of Sue Merz. As I was opening the envelope hands were shaking and the minute I saw first were the Stars on the American flag was the only indication that it was the final piece of the puzzle. Not only did she sign it but she did add the 2 little hockey sticks. I now could celebrate and it will look beautiful with the other players from this 2002 U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team set of 21 cards, 20 player cards and a checklist card. Sue played in all 6 games in the XVIII Olympic Winter Games  in Nagano Japan contributing 6 points 1 goal and 5 assists as a defenseman. One little interesting note, she was nicknamed Murphy her senior year of high school by her Softball coach because the team was actually calling her "Mertzy" and the nickname stuck. Finally getting this last card really makes me very happy as I am sure other collectors have felt the same way when they finally complete a set.

If you are still reading this I say Thank-you and I wish you all success in finishing your sets as it is such a great, great feeling. Look forward to your responses and as always....... Happy Collecting!!!