1952 Topps #219 Bobby Shantz
1952 Topps #219 Bobby Shantz
About Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton "Bobby" Shantz was a left-handed pitcher who signed with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1948 and, after a single strong minor-league season at Class A Lincoln, debuted in the majors on May 1, 1949. Standing only 5-foot-6, he was dubbed the "little lefty" or "mighty mite," and sportswriters of the day tagged the diminutive southpaw with nicknames like "toy pitcher." His signature year came in 1952, when he went 24-7 with a 2.48 ERA over 279 innings, led the American League in wins, and captured the AL Most Valuable Player Award with 83% of the vote; at that summer's All-Star Game in Philadelphia he struck out Whitey Lockman, Jackie Robinson, and Stan Musial in succession before rain ended the game. A three-time All-Star (1951, 1952, 1957), Shantz later became one of the finest fielding pitchers ever, winning eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and he was a member of the 1958 World Series champion New York Yankees—for whom he also turned in a celebrated relief outing in Game 7 of the 1960 Series. Across 16 seasons (1949-1964) with seven franchises, he finished 119-99 with a 3.38 ERA and 1,072 strikeouts. He is not enshrined in the Hall of Fame. This 1952 Topps card falls in the fourth series, well ahead of the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that includes the hobby's famous Mickey Mantle (#311).
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 727 | 0 | 6 | 66 | 114 | 182 | 164 | 188 | 7 |
| SGC | 120 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 54 | 2 |
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 Bobby Shantz card?
It is card #219 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Athletics player.
Is the 1952 Topps Bobby Shantz 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.