1952 Topps #90 Mickey Grasso
1952 Topps #90 Mickey Grasso
About Mickey Grasso
Newton Michael "Mickey" Grasso was a right-handed catcher whose baseball card tells only a fraction of a remarkable life. Born May 10, 1920, in Newark, New Jersey, he earned a 1941 tryout with the Class B Trenton Senators through an uncle's connection and beat out some 200 hopefuls; signed as a second baseman, he was shifted behind the plate, where teammates dubbed him "Mickey" for his resemblance to Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane. After one minor-league season he enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1942, served with the 34th Infantry Division in North Africa, and was captured by Rommel's forces in Tunisia in February 1943. He spent more than two years as a German prisoner of war in Stalag 11B, surviving beatings and failed escape attempts before finally getting free near war's end, dozens of pounds below his playing weight. He rebuilt his career in the minors and reached the majors to stay with the Washington Senators, for whom he was the regular catcher on their last winning club in Washington in 1952. Over parts of seven big-league seasons (New York Giants 1946 and 1955, Senators 1950-1953, Cleveland Indians 1954) he batted .226 with 216 hits, 5 home runs, and 87 RBI in 322 games. As a member of the 1954 pennant-winning Indians he appeared in the World Series, making him, by SABR's account, the only man in major-league history to have been a POW and play in the Fall Classic. He died in Miami on October 15, 1975. Card #90 is a Series 2 common with no error or variation, but its subject carries one of the most extraordinary backstories in the entire 1952 Topps set.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 639 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 85 | 139 | 129 | 243 | 5 |
| SGC | 108 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 25 | 60 | 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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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Mickey Grasso card?
It is card #90 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Washington Senators player.
Is the 1952 Topps Mickey Grasso 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.