1952 Topps #14 Bob Elliott
1952 Topps #14 Bob Elliott
About Bob Elliott
Robert Irving "Bob" Elliott, born in 1916 in San Francisco and raised in El Centro, California, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1936 after starring in local semipro ball as a teenager. He broke in with Pittsburgh in 1939 as an outfielder before manager Frankie Frisch converted him to third base in 1942, and over 15 major-league seasons he played for the Pirates (1939-46), Boston Braves (1947-51), New York Giants (1952), St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox (1953). A seven-time All-Star, Elliott won the 1947 National League Most Valuable Player Award, batting .317 with 22 home runs and 113 RBIs to become the first NL third baseman ever to capture the honor. His Braves teammates nicknamed him "Mr. Team" for his clutch play, greeting his big hits with "Nice going, Team." Elliott starred for Boston's 1948 pennant winners and homered twice in Game 5 of that World Series (including a blast off Bob Feller), batting .333 as the Braves fell to Cleveland in six games. He retired with a .289 average, 2,061 hits, 170 home runs, and 1,195 RBIs, later managing the Kansas City Athletics, and died in 1966 at age 49. Card #14 belongs to the first, more plentiful low-number series of the landmark 1952 Topps set, far removed from the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that includes the famous Mickey Mantle #311.
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 | 738 | 0 | 6 | 56 | 93 | 156 | 147 | 277 | 3 |
| SGC | 110 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 68 | 3 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 61 · Red Back 49
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 Elliott card?
It is card #14 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Braves player.
Does the 1952 Topps Bob Elliott 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 Bob Elliott 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.