1952 Topps #44 Con Dempsey
About Con Dempsey
Cornelius Francis "Con" Dempsey Jr. (1922-2006) was a right-handed pitcher and one of the great "what-if" stories of the 1952 Topps set. A San Francisco native, he starred in baseball and basketball at the University of San Francisco and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before turning pro. He became a Pacific Coast League sensation with his hometown San Francisco Seals, going 16-11 as a 1948 rookie while leading the PCL in both strikeouts (171) and ERA (2.10), then winning 17 games and again pacing the league in strikeouts (164) in 1949. That dominance earned him a shot with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but at 1951 spring training GM Branch Rickey convinced him to abandon his effective sidearm delivery for an overhand motion, and the change backfired: Dempsey pitched only three big-league games, going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA and 3 strikeouts, his entire MLB career. Notably, card #44 pictures him as a Philadelphia Phillie because the Phils had drafted him hoping he would rediscover his Coast League form, but he never appeared in a game for them, making this rookie card a memento of a career that ended in the minors. He later earned a master's degree and taught and coached in San Francisco schools for over 30 years, becoming the first baseball player elected to the USF Hall of Fame. Like many first-series cards, #44 exists with both black-back and red-back printing variations.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Variations & how to tell them apart
Black Back / Red Back Series 1 (cards 1-80)
Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
- Black Back — scarcer: First printing. Reverse printed in black ink. Scarcer, and typically carries a small premium over the red back.
- Red Back: Second printing onward. Reverse printed in red ink. The more common of the two.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 723 | 0 | 3 | 32 | 100 | 152 | 184 | 245 | 7 |
| SGC | 93 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 4 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 54 · Red Back 39
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 Con Dempsey card?
It is card #44 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Phillies player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Con Dempsey have back variations?
Yes. Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
Is the 1952 Topps Con Dempsey 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.