1952 Topps #15 Johnny Pesky
1952 Topps #15 Johnny Pesky
About Johnny Pesky
Born John Paveskovich in Portland, Oregon, to Croatian immigrant parents, Johnny Pesky signed with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1940 season and reached the majors in 1942 as a slick-fielding shortstop and third baseman. He led the American League in hits in each of his first three seasons — 205 as a 1942 rookie, then 207 in both 1946 and 1947 — despite losing the 1943–1945 seasons to World War II military service. A .307 career hitter with 1,455 hits, 17 home runs, and 404 RBI over ten seasons, Pesky spent most of his career with the Red Sox (1942, 1946–1952) before finishing with the Detroit Tigers (1952–1954) and Washington Senators (1954). He made the AL All-Star team in 1946, when he batted .335 and finished fourth in MVP voting for Boston's pennant winner. He legally shortened his name to Pesky in 1947 and became known as "Mr. Red Sox," later managing and coaching the club for decades; Fenway Park's right-field foul pole was officially named "Pesky's Pole" in 2006 and Boston retired his No. 6 in 2008. This #15 is a low-number Series 1 card that exists with both black and red printing on the back.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 854 | 0 | 5 | 52 | 106 | 126 | 189 | 372 | 4 |
| SGC | 191 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 41 | 115 | 2 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 85 · Red Back 106
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 Johnny Pesky card?
It is card #15 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Red Sox player.
Does the 1952 Topps Johnny Pesky 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 Johnny Pesky 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.