1952 Topps #388 Bob Chipman
About Bob Chipman
Robert Howard "Mr. Chips" Chipman (1918-1973), a Brooklyn-born left-handed pitcher, earned his nickname while starring for the Northport (N.Y.) Tigers, and it followed him throughout his career. He turned pro in 1939, winning 14, 17 and 17 games in successive minor-league seasons before the Brooklyn Dodgers recalled him. Chipman debuted on September 28, 1941, and his relief win gave Brooklyn its 100th victory of the year, though he arrived too late to be World Series eligible. Over a dozen big-league seasons (1941-1952) he pitched for the Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs (1944-1949) and the Boston Braves (1950-1952), compiling a 51-46 record with a 3.72 ERA, 322 strikeouts, 29 complete games, seven shutouts and 14 saves across 293 games. He appeared as a reliever in Game 5 of the 1945 World Series for the pennant-winning Cubs against Detroit. His 1952 Topps card, #388, falls in the scarce high-number series (#311-407), printed in far smaller quantities and hard to find today. Chipman was elected to the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 428 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 28 | 68 | 80 | 233 | 5 |
| SGC | 94 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 65 | 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 Bob Chipman card?
It is card #388 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Braves player.
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 Bob Chipman 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.