1952 Topps #182 Billy Hitchcock
1952 Topps #182 Billy Hitchcock
About Billy Hitchcock
A versatile infielder from Inverness, Alabama, William Clyde "Billy" Hitchcock starred at Auburn as an All-SEC tailback—leading the Tigers to the 1937 Bacardi Bowl in Havana—before the New York Yankees signed him out of college. He reached the majors with the Detroit Tigers on April 14, 1942, then served three years in the Army Air Force in the Pacific during World War II, earning a Bronze Star, before resuming a nine-season American League career (1942–1953) with Detroit, the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Athletics. A utility man who played all four infield positions, chiefly third base, he batted .243 with 547 hits, 5 home runs, and 257 RBI over 703 games. His finest year came in 1951 with the Athletics—the team pictured on this card—when he hit a career-best .306. Hitchcock later managed the Baltimore Orioles (1962–1963) and Atlanta Braves (1966–1967), compiling a 274–261 record, and served as president of the Double-A Southern League. Auburn named its baseball field in his honor; he died in 2006. As card #182, this issue sits in Topps' third series, well below the scarce high-number run (#311–407) that includes the famous Mickey Mantle card.
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 | 486 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 91 | 102 | 105 | 145 | 3 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 38 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 70 · Gray Back 3
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 Billy Hitchcock card?
It is card #182 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Athletics player.
Does the 1952 Topps Billy Hitchcock 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 Billy Hitchcock 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.