1952 Topps #132 Clyde Kluttz
1952 Topps #132 Clyde Kluttz
About Clyde Kluttz
Clyde Franklin Kluttz (1917-1979), a North Carolina native, was a right-handed catcher signed out of Catawba College by the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the late 1930s. He debuted with the Boston Braves in 1942 and played nine major-league seasons, also suiting up for the New York Giants, Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Browns and, finally, the Washington Senators (1951-52). Over 656 games he batted .268 with 510 hits, 19 home runs and 212 RBI; his best year came in 1947, when he hit .302 for the Pirates. He earned a World Series ring with the 1946 Cardinals, though he did not appear in the Series itself. Kluttz's lasting fame came as a scout: he signed fellow Carolinian Catfish Hunter for the Athletics in 1964, then, as a Yankees executive, persuaded Hunter to sign New York's landmark free-agent deal a decade later. This card is a Series 3 rookie found with white- or gray-stock backs.
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 | 521 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 70 | 113 | 143 | 162 | 3 |
| SGC | 75 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 42 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 71 · Gray Back 4
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 Clyde Kluttz card?
It is card #132 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Washington Senators player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Clyde Kluttz 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 Clyde Kluttz 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.