1952 Topps #59 Robin Roberts
About Robin Roberts
A durable right-handed ace, Robin Roberts came out of Michigan State College — where he first pitched for coach John Kobs — and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, debuting in the majors on June 18, 1948. He spent the bulk of his 19-year career (1948-1966) with the Phillies before finishing with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs, retiring with a 286-245 record, a 3.41 ERA, and 2,357 strikeouts. Renowned for a rising fastball and pinpoint control, Roberts was a seven-time All-Star (1950-1956) and reeled off six straight 20-win seasons (1950-1955), leading the NL in wins four consecutive years (1952-1955) and in strikeouts in 1953 and 1954. He anchored the youthful 1950 "Whiz Kids," starting and winning the pennant-clinching finale over Brooklyn to give Philadelphia its first NL flag in 35 years, then starting Game 2 of the World Series. This card comes from his signature 1952 season, when he went 28-7 with a 2.59 ERA over 330 innings and was named The Sporting News Player of the Year — the most NL wins since Dizzy Dean in 1935. A workhorse who also surrendered the second-most home runs in history (505), Roberts was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. As card #59, he sits in the more plentiful low-number first series, well ahead of the scarce #311-407 high numbers headlined by the iconic Mickey Mantle.
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 | 1,368 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 105 | 196 | 303 | 716 | 6 |
| SGC | 484 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 15 | 79 | 357 | 19 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 232 · Red Back 252
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 Robin Roberts card?
It is card #59 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Phillies player.
Does the 1952 Topps Robin Roberts 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 Robin Roberts 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.