1952 Topps #42 Lou Kretlow
1952 Topps #42 Lou Kretlow
About Lou Kretlow
Louis Henry "Big Lena" Kretlow (1921-2007) was a hard-throwing but famously wild right-handed pitcher from Apache, Oklahoma. He briefly attended the University of Oklahoma, pitching just two college games before spending 39 months in the Army Air Corps during World War II, where he starred for the semipro Enid Enidairs and threw the first no-hitter in National Baseball Congress tournament history. The Detroit Tigers signed him for a reported bonus of roughly $30,000, and he debuted in 1946. Over parts of 10 major-league seasons he pitched for the Tigers (1946, 1948-49), St. Louis Browns (1950, 1953), Chicago White Sox (1950-52), Baltimore Orioles (1954-55) and Kansas City Athletics (1956), finishing 27-47 with a 4.87 ERA and 450 strikeouts while walking roughly six batters per nine innings. His best year came in 1952 with the White Sox (4-4, 2.96 ERA), the club shown on this card. He picked up the nickname "Big Lena" during his semipro days with the Enidairs. After baseball he became a respected Oklahoma golf professional and once recorded a legendary 427-yard hole-in-one at Lake Hefner Golf Club. This #42 is a first-series 1952 Topps rookie card and comes with the set's documented black-back / red-back printing variation.
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 | 603 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 63 | 120 | 142 | 240 | 6 |
| SGC | 72 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 45 | 2 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 35 · Red Back 37
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 Lou Kretlow card?
It is card #42 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago White Sox player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Lou Kretlow 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 Lou Kretlow 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.