1952 Topps #98 Bill Pierce
About Bill Pierce
Walter William "Billy" Pierce (1927-2015), a Detroit native, signed with the Detroit Tigers straight out of high school in 1945 and debuted at age 18 without a day in the minors. The 5'10" left-hander became a star only after a 1948 trade to the Chicago White Sox, his home from 1949 to 1961. A seven-time All-Star (1953, 1955-1959, 1961), Pierce won the 1955 ERA title (1.97), the 1953 AL strikeout crown (186), and shared the 1957 wins lead, posting back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1956-57. On June 27, 1958, he retired 26 straight Senators before Ed Fitz Gerald doubled to spoil a perfect game. He finished 211-169 with a 3.27 ERA and 1,999 strikeouts, later reaching the 1962 World Series with the San Francisco Giants. Nicknamed "Mr. Zero" for six shutouts as a high-school junior, Pierce had his No. 19 retired by the White Sox in 1987. This is a standard second-series card, outside the #1-80 back-color variations and the scarce #311-407 high numbers.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 938 | 0 | 5 | 64 | 144 | 226 | 200 | 297 | 2 |
| SGC | 149 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 18 | 45 | 62 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Bill Pierce card?
It is card #98 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago White Sox player.
Is the 1952 Topps Bill Pierce 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 2026-10-05.