1952 Topps #29 Ted Kluszewski
About Ted Kluszewski
A powerfully built left-handed first baseman, Ted Kluszewski starred in football and baseball at Indiana University before the Cincinnati Reds, who trained on the Bloomington campus during World War II, signed him in 1946; he reached the majors the following year. Over 15 seasons (1947-1961) he played for the Reds, Pirates, White Sox, and Los Angeles Angels, spending his best 11 years in Cincinnati. Nicknamed "Big Klu" for his imposing 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame and famously huge biceps, he cut the sleeves off his jersey in 1948 because they restricted his swing, and the sleeveless look became his trademark. A four-time All-Star (1953-1956), he led the National League in 1954 with 49 home runs and 141 RBI, setting a Reds single-season home run record and finishing second to Willie Mays in MVP voting. He hit 40 or more homers in three straight seasons and batted over .300 seven times, retiring with a .298 average, 279 home runs, 1,028 RBI, and 1,766 hits in 1,718 games. In the 1959 World Series with the White Sox he batted .391 with three home runs and 10 RBI. He later served as the Reds' hitting coach during the "Big Red Machine" era, and Cincinnati retired his number 18 in 1998. This is a low-number card in the first series of the landmark 1952 Topps set, well before the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that includes the hobby's 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 | 1,118 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 83 | 174 | 238 | 572 | 4 |
| SGC | 320 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 60 | 227 | 7 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 184 · Red Back 136
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 Ted Kluszewski card?
It is card #29 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds player.
Does the 1952 Topps Ted Kluszewski 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 Ted Kluszewski 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.