1952 Topps #131 Morrie Martin
1952 Topps #131 Morrie Martin
About Morrie Martin
Morris Webster "Lefty" Martin (1922-2010) was a left-handed pitcher whose survival story rivals anything he did on the mound. Discovered on a Dixon, Missouri town team and recommended to the Chicago White Sox by former A's catcher Wally Schang, Martin signed in 1941 and went 16-7 with a 2.05 ERA at Grand Forks before World War II interrupted his career. Serving with the First Army's 49th Combat Engineers, he fought through Operation Torch, the D-Day landings, and the Battle of the Bulge, was wounded twice, and nearly lost a leg to gangrene until penicillin saved it; he came home with two Purple Hearts. Martin debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949, then enjoyed his finest year for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1951, going 11-4 with a 3.78 ERA and tossing his only big-league shutout, a five-hit 5-0 win over Detroit at Briggs Stadium on July 19. Over ten seasons (1949-1959) with seven clubs, he compiled a 38-34 record, a 4.29 ERA, and 245 strikeouts across 250 games. This is Martin's rookie card, and like other Philadelphia Athletics issues in the 1952 Topps set it can be found with either a white or gray back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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 | 489 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 63 | 111 | 117 | 170 | 3 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 44 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 68 · Gray Back 5
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 Morrie Martin card?
It is card #131 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Athletics player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Morrie Martin 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 Morrie Martin 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.