1952 Topps #137 Roy McMillan
About Roy McMillan
Roy McMillan was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1947 after a tryout camp in McKinney, Texas, and the right-handed shortstop from Bonham, Texas, reached the majors on April 17, 1951. He anchored a 16-season career (1951-1966) with the Reds (1951-1960), Milwaukee Braves (1961-1964), and New York Mets (1964-1966), retiring with a .243 average, 1,639 hits, 68 home runs, and 594 RBI over 2,093 games. Nicknamed "Mr. Shortstop" for his exceptional defense, McMillan won the National League Gold Glove Award in each of its first three years (1957, 1958, 1959) and was a two-time All-Star (1956, 1957). Paired with second baseman Johnny Temple, he formed one of the era's premier double-play combinations and set a since-surpassed record of 129 double plays in 1954. He later coached and served as interim manager in the majors, and was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1971. This 1952 Topps card is McMillan's rookie card; as a series-3 low number (#137) it comes in both white- and gray-back stock, unlike the scarce high-number series (#311-407) topped by the iconic Mickey Mantle #311.
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 | 646 | 0 | 1 | 53 | 112 | 160 | 143 | 173 | 4 |
| SGC | 103 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 44 | 0 |
SGC by variation: Standard 101 · Gray Back 2
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 Roy McMillan card?
It is card #137 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Roy McMillan 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 Roy McMillan 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.