1952 Topps #374 Al Benton
1952 Topps #374 Al Benton
About Al Benton
John Alton "Al" Benton was a right-handed pitcher signed by Connie Mack after scout Ira Thomas recommended him off the 1933 Oklahoma City Indians. The 6-foot-4 righty debuted with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1934, then did his best work with the Detroit Tigers (1938-42, 1945-48) before later stops with the Cleveland Indians (1949-50) and Boston Red Sox (1952). A two-time American League All-Star (1941 and 1942), Benton led the AL with 17 saves in 1940, went 15-9 with a 2.97 ERA in 1941, and posted a career-low 2.02 ERA in 1945, when he helped Detroit win the World Series and worked three relief games for a 1.93 Series ERA. He missed 1943-44 serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Over 14 seasons he went 98-88 with a 3.66 ERA, 697 strikeouts, and 66 saves in 1,688 1/3 innings. Benton holds a singular distinction: he is the only pitcher to have faced both Babe Ruth (in 1934) and Mickey Mantle (in 1952) in the majors, a fitting note given that this rookie card sits in the same scarce 1952 Topps high-number series (#311-407, printed in far smaller quantities) as Mantle's iconic #311. He died in 1968.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number
Series 6 (311-407). Minimally distributed in the fall of 1952 when retailers cut orders — the scarcest and most coveted run in the set, holding Mantle, Robinson, Campanella, the Mathews rookie and more.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 502 | 0 | 7 | 30 | 56 | 82 | 99 | 222 | 6 |
| SGC | 107 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 72 | 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 Al Benton card?
It is card #374 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Red Sox player, and is his rookie card.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1952 Topps high-number series (311-407), which was minimally distributed in the fall of 1952 and is the scarcest, most sought-after run in the set.
Is the 1952 Topps Al Benton 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.