1952 Topps #159 Saul Rogovin
1952 Topps #159 Saul Rogovin
About Saul Rogovin
Saul Rogovin was a right-handed pitcher from Brooklyn, New York, who broke into professional baseball as a converted outfielder before reaching the majors with the Detroit Tigers in April 1949 at age 27. Over parts of eight big-league seasons (1949-1957), he pitched for the Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies, finishing 48-48 with a 4.06 ERA, 10 shutouts, and 388 strikeouts in 150 appearances. His signature year came in 1951: traded from Detroit to the White Sox in May, he went 12-8 and led the American League with a 2.78 ERA, becoming the first AL pitcher to win the ERA crown while splitting the season between two teams. In 1952 he threw a 15-inning complete game in which he struck out 14 batters. Retiring in 1957 with a sore arm, Rogovin later earned an English-literature degree from City College of New York and, at age 56, became a New York City high-school English teacher. This is his rookie card in the landmark 1952 Topps set (Series 3), and it exists with both white-back and gray-back cardboard-stock variations. Born March 24, 1922, he died January 23, 1995.
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 | 553 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 105 | 133 | 129 | 136 | 6 |
| SGC | 100 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 52 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 97 · Gray Back 3
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 Saul Rogovin card?
It is card #159 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago White Sox player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Saul Rogovin 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 Saul Rogovin 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.