1952 Topps #155 Frank Overmire
1952 Topps #155 Frank Overmire
About Frank Overmire
Frank W. "Stubby" Overmire was a left-handed pitcher who attended Western State Teachers College (now Western Michigan University), starring for the Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941 before signing with the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent. He debuted on April 25, 1943 and pitched ten major-league seasons for the Tigers (1943-1949), St. Louis Browns (1950-1952), and New York Yankees (1951), finishing 58-67 with a 3.96 ERA and 301 strikeouts. Standing just 5-foot-7, he earned the nickname "Stubby" for his short, compact build. His finest year came in 1947, when he went 11-5 with a 3.77 ERA and tied for fifth in the American League with three shutouts. Overmire won two World Series rings: he started Game 3 of the 1945 Series for the champion Tigers (taking a hard-luck 3-0 loss to the Cubs despite allowing just two runs over six innings), then earned a second ring with the 1951 Yankees, the team pictured on this card. After retiring he managed in the Tigers' farm system and served as Detroit's pitching coach from 1963 to 1966. This is a middle-series #155 card and carries the common white-back/gray-back stock variation. Overmire died in 1977 in Lakeland, Florida.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 650 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 84 | 165 | 169 | 179 | 4 |
| SGC | 97 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 28 | 47 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 95 · Gray Back 2
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 Overmire card?
It is card #155 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Yankees player.
Does the 1952 Topps Frank Overmire 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 Overmire 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.