1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko
1952 Topps #1 Andy Pafko
The set's iconic #1 - notoriously condition-sensitive from decades atop rubber-banded stacks, and the most valuable common in the set.
About Andy Pafko
Andy Pafko was a Wisconsin-born outfielder signed as a teenager off his father's farm, breaking in with the Class D Eau Claire club and starring in the Wisconsin State League before reaching the majors with the Chicago Cubs in September 1943. Over 17 seasons he manned the outfield (and briefly third base) for the Cubs (1943-1951), Brooklyn Dodgers (1951-1952), and Milwaukee Braves (1953-1959), retiring with a .285 average, 213 home runs, and 976 RBI across 1,852 games. A five-time All-Star, he anchored the Cubs' 1945 National League pennant winners, who fell to the Tigers in a seven-game World Series, and later won a championship with the 1957 Braves, who beat the Yankees before losing a Series rematch in 1958. Nicknamed "Handy Andy" for the versatility that let him play multiple positions, Pafko was also the left fielder who watched Bobby Thomson's 1951 "Shot Heard 'Round the World" sail overhead. He is best remembered by collectors as card #1 of the landmark 1952 Topps set - the most valuable common in the issue, notoriously worn from decades atop rubber-banded stacks and prized in high grade. Pafko died in 2013 at age 92.
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 | 2,108 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 39 | 95 | 243 | 1,654 | 67 |
| SGC | 791 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 28 | 662 | 81 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 368 · Red Back 423
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 Andy Pafko card?
It is card #1 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Brooklyn Dodgers player.
Does the 1952 Topps Andy Pafko 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 Andy Pafko 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.