1952 Topps #166 Paul LaPalme
1952 Topps #166 Paul LaPalme
About Paul LaPalme
Paul Edmore "Lefty" LaPalme (1923-2010), a left-handed knuckleball specialist from Springfield, Massachusetts, began his professional career in 1941 at age 17 with the Bristol Twins of the Appalachian League, then interrupted his baseball path to serve in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. He reached the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951 and, in his debut season, threw a five-hit shutout against the Boston Braves. Over seven big-league seasons he pitched for the Pirates (1951-1954), St. Louis Cardinals (1955-1956), Cincinnati Redlegs (1956), and Chicago White Sox (1956-1957), compiling a 24-45 record with a 4.42 ERA, 277 strikeouts, one shutout, and 14 saves across 253 games (94 starts) and 616 1/3 innings. His finest year came out of the Cardinals' bullpen in 1955, when he went 4-3 with a sharp 2.75 ERA over 56 relief appearances. This 1952 Topps card (#166), from the third series, is LaPalme's rookie card and exists with the set's two back-stock variations, printed on either white or gray cardboard.
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 | 651 | 0 | 3 | 41 | 96 | 174 | 158 | 172 | 7 |
| SGC | 98 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 28 | 47 | 3 |
SGC by variation: Standard 97 · Gray Back 1
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 Paul LaPalme card?
It is card #166 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Paul LaPalme 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 Paul LaPalme 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.