1952 Topps #156 Frank Hiller
1952 Topps #156 Frank Hiller
About Frank Hiller
Frank Walter Hiller was a right-handed pitcher who starred at Lafayette College, where he compiled a 22-2 record that drew professional scouts; Yankees scout Paul Krichell signed him in 1943 and sent him to the Newark Bears, where he anchored the club's 1945 Governor's Cup championship before an elbow injury required surgery. Hiller reached the majors on May 25, 1946, with the New York Yankees and pitched seven big-league seasons (1946-1953) for the Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants, finishing 30-32 with a 4.42 ERA and 197 strikeouts. His finest year came in 1950 with the Cubs, when he went 12-5 with a 3.53 ERA; his .706 winning percentage trailed only Sal Maglie among National League pitchers that season, a notable feat for a last-place team. Traded from the Cubs to Cincinnati in January 1952, Hiller is pictured with the Reds on this card, part of the landmark first Topps flagship set; as a low-number card (#156) it predates the scarce high-number series (#311-407) that made the set's later cards so rare. His 1952 Topps issue serves as his rookie card. After retiring, Hiller became one of the first former major leaguers affiliated with the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). He died January 10, 1987, at age 66.
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 | 680 | 0 | 4 | 44 | 110 | 175 | 141 | 200 | 6 |
| SGC | 88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 45 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 87 · 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 Frank Hiller card?
It is card #156 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Frank Hiller 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 Frank Hiller 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.