1952 Topps #163 Stan Rojek
1952 Topps #163 Stan Rojek
About Stan Rojek
Stanley Andrew Rojek was a right-handed shortstop from North Tonawanda, New York, signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers off scout Dick Fischer's recommendation in 1939 and developed through their farm system at Olean, Dayton, Durham, and Montreal. He debuted with Brooklyn in 1942, served in World War II, and returned to spend 1946-47 backing up Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese on a Dodgers club that captured the 1947 National League pennant. Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 1948, Rojek finally became an everyday player and enjoyed his finest season, appearing in all 156 games, batting .290, and leading the NL in games, at-bats, and plate appearances while finishing 10th in MVP voting. Teammates dubbed him "The Happy Rabbit" for his projecting front teeth and quickness around shortstop, though former Dodgers ribbed him as "Reject" after Brooklyn sold him off. He closed out an eight-season career (.266 average, 470 hits, 4 home runs, 122 RBI, 32 stolen bases in 522 games) with the Cardinals in 1951 and the St. Louis Browns in 1952 — the American League club pictured on this card. Rojek's #163 was printed in the more common low-number series, well before the scarce #311-407 high numbers, and exists with both white and gray back stock.
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 | 628 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 89 | 185 | 144 | 169 | 4 |
| SGC | 96 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 29 | 44 | 2 |
SGC by variation: Standard 93 · 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 Stan Rojek card?
It is card #163 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Browns player.
Does the 1952 Topps Stan Rojek 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 Stan Rojek 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.