1952 Topps #161 Bud Byerly
1952 Topps #161 Bud Byerly
About Bud Byerly
Eldred William "Bud" Byerly was a right-handed pitcher from Webster Groves, Missouri, who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after scout Charles Barrett spotted him at a Sportsman's Park tryout, then broke in professionally with the Portsmouth Red Birds in 1940. He debuted in the majors in September 1943 and pitched parts of 11 big-league seasons over 17 years, working chiefly out of the bullpen (17 starts among 237 career games) for the Cardinals (1943-45), Cincinnati Reds (1950-52), Washington Senators (1956-57), Boston Red Sox (1958), and San Francisco Giants (1959-60). As a rookie he appeared in Game 3 of the 1944 World Series, throwing a scoreless inning as the Cardinals beat the crosstown Browns for the championship. His durable relief work included 40 appearances for the 1951 Reds (2-1, 3.27 ERA) and career highs of six wins and six saves with the 1957 Senators, when he posted a 3.13 ERA in 47 games. Byerly finished 22-22 with a 3.70 ERA, 14 saves, and 209 strikeouts, and died in 2012 at age 92. This is his rookie card, issued in Topps' landmark 1952 flagship set; like others in the third series it comes with both white-back and gray-back stock varieties.
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 | 621 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 92 | 154 | 162 | 181 | 7 |
| SGC | 84 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 41 | 4 |
SGC by variation: Standard 83 · 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 Bud Byerly card?
It is card #161 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Bud Byerly 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 Bud Byerly 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.