1952 Topps #323 Bubba Church
1952 Topps #323 Bubba Church
About Bubba Church
Emory Nicholas "Bubba" Church was a right-handed pitcher out of Birmingham, Alabama, who attended Louisiana State University and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947. Nicknamed "Bubba" by his older brother Frank, who as a child couldn't manage "brother," Church debuted on April 30, 1950, and became a key member of the pennant-winning "Whiz Kids," going 8-6 with a 2.73 ERA and two shutouts in 142 innings. His rookie season ended dramatically on September 15, 1950, when a Ted Kluszewski line drive struck him beneath the left eye, hospitalizing him and thinning a Phillies staff that limped to the National League flag. He rebounded with his finest year in 1951, posting career highs of 15 wins, 247 innings, and four shutouts. Over six seasons with the Phillies (1950-52), Cincinnati Reds (1952-53), and Chicago Cubs (1953-55), he compiled a 36-37 record, 4.10 ERA, and 274 strikeouts in 999.2 innings. This card comes from the scarce high-number series (#311-407), printed in far smaller quantities and famously overstocked and dumped, making Church's card considerably harder to find today than his low-number set-mates.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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 | 492 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 52 | 81 | 85 | 228 | 4 |
| SGC | 98 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 67 | 5 |
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 Bubba Church card?
It is card #323 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds 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 Bubba Church 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.