1952 Topps #136 Johnny Schmitz
1952 Topps #136 Johnny Schmitz
About Johnny Schmitz
John Albert "Bear Tracks" Schmitz was a crafty left-handed pitcher (he batted right but threw left) from Wausau, Wisconsin, who broke in with the Chicago Cubs on September 6, 1941, at age 20. After losing 1943-1945 to U.S. Navy service in the Pacific during World War II, he returned to post a standout career across 13 seasons (1941-1956), pitching for the Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. A two-time All-Star (1946 and 1948), Schmitz led the National League in strikeouts in 1946 with 135, and enjoyed his finest season in 1948 when he went 18-13 with a 2.64 ERA for the Cubs. He was nicknamed "Bear Tracks" for the way he shuffled to the mound and his size-14 feet. On June 15, 1951, the Cubs dealt him to the Dodgers in a multi-player trade that also sent Andy Pafko, Wayne Terwilliger and Rube Walker to Brooklyn — which is why this 1952 Topps card, part of the third series, pictures him in a Dodgers uniform. For his career he compiled a 93-114 record with a 3.55 ERA and 746 strikeouts over 366 games. He died in his hometown of Wausau in 2011 at age 90.
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 | 665 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 105 | 158 | 149 | 196 | 6 |
| SGC | 85 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 40 | 3 |
SGC by variation: Standard 82 · Gray Back 3
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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More Brooklyn Dodgers cards
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- Phil Haugstad
- Clyde King
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Johnny Schmitz card?
It is card #136 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Brooklyn Dodgers player.
Does the 1952 Topps Johnny Schmitz 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 Johnny Schmitz 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.