1952 Topps #183 Erv Dusak
About Erv Dusak
Ervin Frank "Four Sack" Dusak (1920–1994) was a Chicago-born outfielder and infielder who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization at 17 and hammered his way up the farm system, hitting .351 with 18 home runs for the Class D Monett Redbirds; the nickname "Four Sack" grew out of that prodigious minor-league power, reportedly coined in a poem a fan wrote after one of his home runs. Some scouts considered him a brighter prospect than his teammate Stan Musial. Dusak reached the majors in 1941 and played nine seasons (1941–42, 1946–52) for the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a member of St. Louis's 1946 World Series champions, delivering clutch hits down the stretch — including a walk-off three-run homer against Brooklyn — and appearing in four games of the Fall Classic. When his bat cooled, the Cardinals tapped his strong arm and converted him to pitching, making him one of baseball's rare two-way players (0–3, 5.33 ERA on the mound). His playing career ended in 1952 with Pittsburgh. Over 413 games he batted .243 with 24 home runs and 106 RBI. This card falls in the lower-numbered third series of the 1952 Topps set, well before the scarce high-number run (#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 | 533 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 119 | 130 | 104 | 135 | 3 |
| SGC | 80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 27 | 34 | 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 Erv Dusak card?
It is card #183 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Does the 1952 Topps Erv Dusak 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 Erv Dusak 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.