1952 Topps #141 Clint Hartung
1952 Topps #141 Clint Hartung
About Clint Hartung
Clinton Clyde "Clint" Hartung (1922-2010), the "Hondo Hurricane" — a nickname drawn from his South Texas hometown of Hondo — was one of the most hyped prospects in baseball history, and card #141 captures him in the New York Giants uniform he wore for his entire big-league career. Signed by the Giants and a two-way star in the service during World War II, Hartung reportedly went 25-0 as a pitcher and batted .567 for the Hickam Field Bombers, generating pre-debut publicity so feverish that writers joked he should be sent "straight to Cooperstown." The 6-foot-5 right-hander debuted in 1947 and played six seasons (1947-1952), first as a pitcher and later, when his arm faltered, as an outfielder — a rare mid-career switch. He finished 29-29 with a 5.02 ERA and 167 strikeouts on the mound while hitting 14 home runs as a batter. His most enduring moment came in the 1951 NL pennant playoff: Hartung was pinch-running at third base and scored on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." His unfulfilled promise became so legendary that Bill James named the "Clint Hartung Award," given to each decade's most overhyped prospect, in his honor. Like other cards in the set's third series, #141 exists with both white and 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 | 498 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 64 | 105 | 115 | 183 | 4 |
| SGC | 80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 46 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 78 · 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Clint Hartung card?
It is card #141 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Giants player.
Does the 1952 Topps Clint Hartung 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 Clint Hartung 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.