1952 Topps #228 Al Brazle
1952 Topps #228 Al Brazle
About Al Brazle
Alpha Eugene "Cotton" Brazle, a left-handed pitcher born in Loyal, Oklahoma, in 1913, entered pro ball in 1936 after a semipro scout took note of his 23-strikeout game, signing with the Little Rock Travelers and having his contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox. Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1940, he did not reach the majors until July 1943 as a 29-year-old rookie, immediately winning eight of ten decisions with a 1.53 ERA to help St. Louis capture the NL pennant. After more than two years of military service, he returned in 1946 and reinvented himself as a rubber-armed, side-arm sinkerball pitcher, working as both starter and reliever. He spent his entire big-league career with the Cardinals (1943, 1946-1954), going 97-64 with a 3.31 ERA and twice leading the National League in saves (1952 and 1953). Nicknamed "Cotton" for his white-blond, wiry hair, he was also dubbed "Ol' Boots and Saddles" by sportswriter Bob Broeg for his cowboy-like readiness to pitch. He appeared in two World Series, losing to the Yankees in 1943 and winning the title against Boston in 1946, and in 1954 was the oldest player to take the field in the NL that season. This card sits in the fourth series of the 1952 Topps set, well ahead of the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that begins with the iconic Mickey Mantle.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 729 | 0 | 9 | 72 | 164 | 165 | 154 | 161 | 4 |
| SGC | 100 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 39 | 40 | 2 |
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 Brazle card?
It is card #228 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player.
Is the 1952 Topps Al Brazle 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.