1952 Topps #317 Connie Marrero
1952 Topps #317 Connie Marrero
About Connie Marrero
Conrado "Connie" Marrero was a diminutive Cuban right-handed pitcher who became one of baseball's most beloved late bloomers. Born April 25, 1911, in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, he grew up working his family's sugar-cane farm and did not take up organized ball until his late twenties, becoming a legend of the Cuban amateur circuit over roughly two decades and earning the nicknames "El Curveador" and "El Curvo" for his devastating curveball. Signed by the Washington Senators organization in 1947, he pitched in the Class B Florida International League before reaching the majors in 1950 as a 39-year-old rookie. Standing just 5-foot-5 with a whirling, high-kicking windup and a trademark Havana cigar, he played all five of his big-league seasons (1950-1954) with Washington, going 39-40 with a 3.67 ERA and 297 strikeouts over 118 games. In 1951 he made the American League All-Star team, becoming, at 40, the oldest first-time All-Star to that point. Marrero later returned to Cuba and lived to age 102, dying April 23, 2014, as the oldest living former major leaguer. His card sits in the coveted high-number series (#311-407) of the 1952 Topps set, printed in far smaller quantities and famously scarce today.
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 | 452 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 52 | 85 | 78 | 213 | 3 |
| SGC | 103 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 64 | 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 Connie Marrero card?
It is card #317 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Washington Senators 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 Connie Marrero 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.