1952 Topps #380 Clem Koshorek
1952 Topps #380 Clem Koshorek
About Clem Koshorek
Clement John "Scooter" Koshorek was a diminutive 5-foot-4 right-handed infielder who spent parts of two seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1952-1953). Born June 20, 1925, in Royal Oak, Michigan, he signed into the Detroit Tigers' farm system and earned his nickname "Scooter" starring at shortstop for the Flint Arrows of the Central League from 1948 to 1950. The Pirates selected him in the 1951 Rule 5 draft, and he reached the big leagues in 1952, appearing in 98 games as a utility man who logged starts at shortstop, third base, and second base for a Pittsburgh club that won just 42 games — the worst record in the franchise's post-1900 history. Over his brief 99-game MLB career he batted .260 with 84 hits, 17 doubles, no home runs, and 15 RBI. A career minor leaguer who played roughly 14 pro seasons, he later served as player-manager of the Palatka Redlegs in 1959. This is his lone Topps rookie card, issued in the scarce, high-number sixth series (#311-407) that was printed in far lower quantities and famously dumped, making these cards genuinely rare and highly sought today. Koshorek died September 8, 1991, in his hometown of Royal Oak.
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 | 522 | 0 | 6 | 47 | 63 | 95 | 72 | 237 | 2 |
| SGC | 97 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 58 | 4 |
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 Clem Koshorek card?
It is card #380 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his rookie card.
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 Clem Koshorek 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.