1952 Topps #164 Walt Dubiel
1952 Topps #164 Walt Dubiel
About Walt Dubiel
Walter John "Monk" Dubiel was a right-handed pitcher from Hartford, Connecticut, who signed with the New York Yankees organization in 1941 and starred in the minors — going 13-5 with a 1.62 ERA for the Norfolk Tars in 1942 and throwing a no-hitter for the Newark Bears in 1943. Classified 4-F during World War II because of an eye cataract, he reached the majors as a rookie in 1944 and made an immediate splash, logging 19 complete games, three shutouts and 232 innings with a 3.38 ERA for the Yankees. Over parts of seven big-league seasons (1944-1945 Yankees, 1948 Phillies, 1949-1952 Cubs) as both a starter and swingman, he went 45-53 with a 3.87 ERA, 289 strikeouts and 11 saves in 187 games. He was traded to the Cubs in a December 1948 deal involving Eddie Waitkus. The origin of "Monk" is disputed — a popular story credited to sportswriter Dan Daniel claimed a too-small Akron uniform made him look like "an organ grinder's monkey," though Dubiel said he had been called Monk since childhood. Chronic hip, back and eye ailments kept him from his early promise, and he died in his hometown of Hartford in 1969 at age 51. On this card, a common third-series issue (not one of the scarce high numbers), collectors will find both white-back and gray-back stock variations.
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 | 598 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 79 | 144 | 151 | 181 | 4 |
| SGC | 95 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 36 | 42 | 3 |
SGC by variation: Standard 92 · 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 Walt Dubiel card?
It is card #164 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago Cubs player.
Does the 1952 Topps Walt Dubiel 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 Walt Dubiel 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.