1952 Topps #16 Gene Hermanski
1952 Topps #16 Gene Hermanski
About Gene Hermanski
Eugene Victor Hermanski (1920-2010), a left-handed-hitting outfielder from Pittsfield, Massachusetts who attended Seton Hall University, signed with the Philadelphia Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1939 before the Brooklyn Dodgers acquired him. After a strong minor-league showing and Coast Guard and Naval Aviation service during World War II, he debuted with Brooklyn on August 14, 1943, and played nine major-league seasons through 1953 with the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates. A corner outfielder, he batted .272 with 533 hits, 46 home runs, and 259 RBI over 739 games, drawing enough walks to carry a .372 on-base percentage. Hermanski was the Dodgers' starting left fielder on April 15, 1947, the day Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, and he is often credited with suggesting teammates all wear No. 42 to protect Robinson. His signature day came August 5, 1948, when he hit three home runs in a single game against the Cubs at Ebbets Field. He appeared in two World Series for Brooklyn (1947 and 1949), batting .308 in the 1949 Series loss to the Yankees. This card #16 is a Series 1 common found with both black-back and red-back color variations; by 1952 Hermanski was pictured with the Cubs, the team he joined in 1951.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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 | 681 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 94 | 144 | 163 | 223 | 8 |
| SGC | 102 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 26 | 60 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 50 · Red Back 52
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 Gene Hermanski card?
It is card #16 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago Cubs player.
Does the 1952 Topps Gene Hermanski 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 Gene Hermanski 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.