1952 Topps #190 Don Johnson
1952 Topps #190 Don Johnson
About Don Johnson
Donald Roy Johnson was a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher, born November 12, 1926, in Portland, Oregon (d. 2015). The New York Yankees signed him as a teenager after the 1943 season, and he began his pro career with the Kansas City Blues in 1944. He reached the majors with the Yankees on April 20, 1947, winning his big-league debut in a 10-inning game against the Philadelphia Athletics, and was a member of the 1947 World Series champion Yankees, though he did not pitch in the Series. Over seven seasons (1947-1958) he pitched for the Yankees, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and San Francisco Giants, finishing 27-38 with a 4.78 ERA and 262 strikeouts in 198 games. His best year came in 1954 with the White Sox: 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA, three shutouts, and seven saves. This 1952 Topps card is Johnson's rookie card and captures his Senators tenure (1951-52); in 1952 he pulled a hamstring in spring training and appeared in just 29 games, mostly in relief, going 0-5. As a Series 3 card (#190), it is found with both white and gray back stock and sits below the scarce high-number series (#311-407) that includes the famous Mickey Mantle #311.
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 | 454 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 57 | 115 | 108 | 141 | 2 |
| SGC | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 35 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 69 · 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 Don Johnson card?
It is card #190 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 Don Johnson 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 Don Johnson 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.