1952 Topps #280 Cloyd Boyer
About Cloyd Boyer
Cloyd Victor Boyer Jr. (September 1, 1927 - September 20, 2021) was a right-handed pitcher from Alba, Missouri, who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in 1945 without a bonus. He announced himself in the minors with a dominant 1947 season for the Duluth Dukes, going 16-9 and leading the Northern League with 239 strikeouts as a unanimous All-Star. Boyer reached the majors on April 23, 1949, and pitched five big-league seasons -- four with the Cardinals (1949-1952) and a final year with the Kansas City Athletics in 1955 -- compiling a 20-23 record with a 4.73 ERA, 198 strikeouts, 13 complete games and three shutouts. His best year came in 1950, when he went 7-7 with a 3.52 ERA and did not allow a run over his first five appearances. Hard-throwing in his youth, he was tagged "Killer Cloyd" and "Blazing Boyer." He was the eldest of the baseball Boyer brothers -- Gold Glove third basemen and 1964 NL MVP Ken Boyer and longtime Yankees fielding wizard Clete Boyer. After his playing days, Cloyd forged a long coaching career, serving as pitching coach for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, and guiding the staff of the Yankees' 1977 World Series championship team. This card falls in the fifth series of the landmark 1952 Topps set, printed before the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that begins with the hobby's celebrated Mickey Mantle card at #311.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 490 | 0 | 3 | 36 | 55 | 117 | 112 | 164 | 3 |
| SGC | 76 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 34 | 1 |
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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More St. Louis Cardinals cards
- Johnny Bucha
- Wally Westlake
- Tommy Glaviano
- Enos Slaughter
- Cliff Chambers
- Eddie Stanky
- Jerry Staley
- Billy Johnson
- Al Schoendienst
- Del Rice
- Peanuts Lowrey
- George Munger
- Eddie Kazak
- Solly Hemus
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Cloyd Boyer card?
It is card #280 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player.
Is the 1952 Topps Cloyd Boyer 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.