1972 Topps #197 Johnny Briggs
About Johnny Briggs
Briggs hit two home runs and drove in five against the Red Sox on July 17, 1971, during his first year as a Milwaukee regular. When general manager Frank Lane talked contract for 1972, he offered a $1,000 negative bonus if Briggs did not match his 21 home runs, saying he would rather see him cut down on his swing. That season Briggs played 106 games in the outfield and 28 at first base. His #197 is a second-series card listing him with the Brewers.
John Edward Briggs, known as Johnny, grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, the seventh of ten children, and starred in three sports at Eastside High School before signing with the Phillies in 1962 for an $8,000 bonus. After one year at Bakersfield in the California League, the left-handed-hitting outfielder made the Phillies' major-league roster for good in 1964. He spent parts of eight seasons in Philadelphia as an outfielder and part-time first baseman, then was traded to Milwaukee in 1971, where everyday playing time helped him post his best power numbers, including 21 home runs twice. His finest all-around season came in 1973, when he set career highs in stolen bases, runs and walks. He closed his career with Minnesota in 1975, then signed to play for Japan's Lotte Orions but fell ill and left before ever appearing in a game there. After baseball, Briggs returned to Paterson, worked as a corrections officer, and spent two decades running youth baseball programs in his hometown.
Sources: SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 335 | 16 | 84 | 188 | 35 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| SGC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-10-19. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Shop 1972 Topps cards Live auctions Buy It Now on eBay Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
Team card: #106 Milwaukee Brewers
More Milwaukee Brewers cards:
- #12 Jose Cardenal
- #77 Ron Theobald
- #118 Skip Lockwood
- #153 Rick Auerbach
- #161 Brock Davis
- #162 Brewers 1972 Rookie Stars
- #255 Jim Lonborg
- #281 Bill Parsons
- #321 Joe Lahoud
- #359 Don Pavletich
- #376 Andy Kosco
- #386 Jim Colborn
- #391 Ken Sanders
- #393 Curt Motton
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1972 Topps #197 card?
It is card #197 of the 787-card 1972 Topps Baseball set, picturing Johnny Briggs of the Milwaukee Brewers.
How many cards are in the 1972 Topps Baseball set?
787 cards, tracked as 794 collectible states. Numbers run from 1 to 787 with none skipped, in six print series (#1-132, #133-263, #264-394, #395-525, #526-656 and #657-787, the high numbers); 7 cards carry catalogued print variations that the master set counts separately - four Chicago Cubs cards with yellow or green under the "C" and "S" of the team name, the #251 and #478 checklists with smaller or larger print on the front, and the #604 checklist with its copyright line aligned right or left.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, BaseballCardPedia, Cardboard Connection, Baseball Almanac, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-25.