1952 Topps #282 Birdie Tebbetts
1952 Topps #282 Birdie Tebbetts
About Birdie Tebbetts
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts (1912-1999) was a right-handed catcher signed by the Detroit Tigers, who agreed to pay his tuition at Providence College, where he became a baseball All-American before graduating in 1934. He reached the majors with Detroit in 1936 and played 14 seasons through 1952, appearing for the Tigers (1936-42, 1946-47), Boston Red Sox (1947-50), and Cleveland Indians (1951-52), the club shown on this card. A four-time All-Star (1941, 1942, 1948, 1949), Tebbetts was regarded as one of the American League's finest defensive catchers, prized for handling pitchers rather than for power. He batted .270 with 1,000 hits, 38 home runs, and 469 RBI over 1,162 games. The nickname "Birdie" came from his high, chirping voice, said to sound like a bird. After his playing days he managed the Cincinnati Redlegs, Milwaukee Braves, and Indians, winning Manager of the Year honors in 1956. This #282 card is a short print from the 1952 set's fifth series, making it tougher to locate than most low-number cards.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Short Print
Cards 281-300 were single-printed relative to the rest of series 5 — EXCEPT #289 Holmes, #295 Cavarretta and #296 Rolfe. 17 SP cards in all.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 546 | 0 | 8 | 67 | 93 | 107 | 134 | 132 | 5 |
| SGC | 89 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 26 | 40 | 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 Birdie Tebbetts card?
It is card #282 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cleveland Indians player.
Is the 1952 Topps Birdie Tebbetts 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.