Color television helped to change the demographic. For a 1950s kid who watched baseball in grainy black and white, trading cards brought heroes to life. So cherished is the 1952 set that Topps published a Heritage series for 2001 that puts present players on 1952-style cards. Hobbyists today are stocking reliquaries. Here are some of mine.
First guy throws down a card.
If second guy throws and matches the flip, head for head or tail for tail, challenger wins both cards. If not, first guy cleans up. No matter how expert the flick of the wrist, the breeze controlled the flutter and chance ruled the landing. Everybody took his turn as alpha dog. Today you might lose Warren Spahn but tomorrow, that elusive Jackie Jensen card would come your way.