1952 Topps #66 Preacher Roe
1952 Topps #66 Preacher Roe
About Preacher Roe
Elwin Charles "Preacher" Roe was a crafty left-handed pitcher who earned his nickname as a toddler—asked his name by an uncle, the three-year-old answered "preacher," reportedly after a visiting minister who had given him rides. After starring at Harding College, he was signed by Branch Rickey of the St. Louis Cardinals and debuted in 1938. Roe pitched briefly for the Cardinals (1938) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1944–1947) before finding his home with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–1954). Over 12 major-league seasons he went 127–84 with a 3.43 ERA and 956 strikeouts, leading the National League in strikeouts (148) in 1945 and earning five All-Star selections (1945, 1949–1952). His signature year was 1951, when he went 22–3 with a 3.04 ERA—an .880 winning percentage that remains the NL record for a 20-game winner. In the 1949 World Series he threw a six-hit complete-game shutout to beat the Yankees 1–0. Roe openly credited a spitball as his "money pitch," famously attributing his success to "clean livin' and the spitball," and detailed the outlawed pitch in a 1955 Sports Illustrated confession. This #66 card, from the plentiful low-number first series, is found with both black-back and red-back printing variations. Roe was never elected to the Hall of Fame; he died in 2008 at age 92.
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 | 1,058 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 125 | 215 | 215 | 439 | 11 |
| SGC | 239 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 62 | 145 | 9 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 124 · Red Back 115
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 Preacher Roe card?
It is card #66 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 Preacher Roe 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 Preacher Roe 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.