1952 Topps #178 Cass Michaels
About Cass Michaels
Born Casimir Eugene Kwietniewski on March 4, 1926, in Detroit, Cass Michaels was discovered playing sandlot ball and signed to a major-league contract by the Chicago White Sox in 1943, reaching the big leagues at just 16 years old. A versatile infielder who saw time at second base, shortstop, and third base, he adopted the name "Cass Michaels" in 1945 (shortening the Polish "Kwietniewski") and went on to play 12 major-league seasons. His finest year came in 1949, when he hit a career-best .308 with 83 RBI for the White Sox and earned the first of back-to-back American League All-Star selections (1949 and 1950). Over his career he also suited up for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Philadelphia Athletics before returning to Chicago, batting .262 with 1,142 hits, 53 home runs, and 501 RBI. His playing days ended abruptly and tragically: on August 27, 1954, he was struck in the head by a Marion Fricano pitch, an injury that impaired his vision and forced him to retire after collapsing in 1955 spring training. He died in 1982. On this 1952 Topps card—part of the third series—Michaels is pictured as a Senator; the card is known with both white-back and gray-back stock variations.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 479 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 81 | 116 | 120 | 135 | 4 |
| SGC | 78 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 32 | 2 |
SGC by variation: Standard 76 · Gray Back 2
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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Washington Senators cards
- Pete Runnels
- Irv Noren
- Sid Hudson
- Tom Upton
- Mickey Grasso
- Al Sima
- Sam Mele
- Mickey Vernon
- Eddie Yost
- Clyde Kluttz
- Joe Haynes
- Don Johnson
- Sherry Robertson
- Frank Shea
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Cass Michaels card?
It is card #178 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Washington Senators player.
Does the 1952 Topps Cass Michaels 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 Cass Michaels 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.