1952 Topps #61 Tookie Gilbert
About Tookie Gilbert
Harold Joseph "Tookie" Gilbert (1929-1967) was a New Orleans-born first baseman who batted left-handed and threw right-handed. The son of longtime minor-league manager Larry Gilbert and brother of big-leaguer Charlie Gilbert, he was so coveted out of high school that his father staged a lottery at the Monteleone Hotel in 1946 to pick his team, and his mother drew the New York Giants' name from a hat, landing the 17-year-old a hefty $50,000 signing bonus. His nickname came from childhood, when he mispronounced "rookie" as "tookie." Gilbert was a genuine minor-league slugger, leading the Southern Association in hits with Nashville (1949) and pacing the American Association with 29 home runs for the Minneapolis Millers in 1951, but the power never carried to the majors. In two trials with the Giants (1950 and 1953) he hit just .203 with 7 home runs and 48 RBI over 183 games, though he did homer in his 1950 debut. He later served as Orleans Parish civil sheriff before dying of a heart attack in 1967 at age 38. His card, a Series 1 low number, is found with both black and red back-color variations.
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 | 911 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 97 | 199 | 229 | 333 | 6 |
| SGC | 128 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 30 | 80 | 0 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 77 · Red Back 51
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Tookie Gilbert card?
It is card #61 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Giants player.
Does the 1952 Topps Tookie Gilbert 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 Tookie Gilbert 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 2026-10-05.