1952 Topps #152 Al Evans
1952 Topps #152 Al Evans
About Al Evans
A defense-first catcher from Kenly, North Carolina, Al Evans played textile-league ball before Washington owner Clark Griffith signed him as an amateur free agent in 1937, and he broke in with the Class D New Bern Bears and hit around .300 for the Class B Charlotte Hornets. Evans reached the majors with the Senators in 1939 and spent 12 seasons (1939-1951) in the American League, catching for Washington through 1950 before finishing with the Boston Red Sox in 1951 -- the club shown on this card. A right-handed hitter prized for his throwing arm rather than his bat, he appeared in 704 games and posted a .250 average with 514 hits, 13 home runs, and 211 RBI, sharing Washington's catching with fellow North Carolinian Jake Early during the 1940s. His finest year came in 1949, when he topped 100 games for the only time and ranked as the league's best defensive catcher. Evans lost time to World War II, serving in the Navy from after the 1942 season into 1944 as a chief petty officer and catcher at Norfolk Naval Air Station. After his playing days he managed and scouted in the minors, signing pitcher Jim Roland for the Twins, and he died in his hometown of Kenly in 1979. His #152 sits in the middle of the 1952 set, well clear of the scarce #311-407 high-number series that includes the famous Mickey Mantle; like many 1952 commons it can be found with either white or gray back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 3 (cards 131-190)
The third series exists on two different card stocks. The standard issue is on white/cream stock; a much scarcer parallel was printed on gray cardboard. The gray stock was used at the END of the series-3 run — leftover stock run through the same press, not a separate or foreign printing. Gray backs have a duller, gloss-less front and are never found with gum stains.
- White Back: Standard issue. White/cream card stock, normal red-ink back. Sharper, glossier front.
- Gray Back — scarcer: Scarce parallel on gray card stock. Duller, gloss-less front; never gum-stained. #189 Pete Reiser is the rarest of the run; #146 Frank House appears with a pale/yellow Tiger logo. NOTE: long mislabeled 'Canadian' (borrowed from the genuinely-Canadian 1954 Topps issue) — there is no evidence the 1952 grays were a Canadian release. TCDB catalogs these as 'Grey Back' against the normal 'Red Back'.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 558 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 76 | 144 | 134 | 171 | 5 |
| SGC | 68 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 35 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 67 · Gray Back 1
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Al Evans card?
It is card #152 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Red Sox player.
Does the 1952 Topps Al Evans have back variations?
Yes. The third series exists on two different card stocks. The standard issue is on white/cream stock; a much scarcer parallel was printed on gray cardboard. The gray stock was used at the END of the series-3 run — leftover stock run through the same press, not a separate or foreign printing. Gray backs have a duller, gloss-less front and are never found with gum stains.
Is the 1952 Topps Al Evans valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.