1952 Topps #336 Dave Koslo
About Dave Koslo
Born George Bernard Koslowski in Menasha, Wisconsin, Dave Koslo was signed by Milwaukee Brewers scout Red Smith after throwing a no-hitter in a 1938 state tournament, then worked his way up through the minors at Hopkinsville and Paducah before the New York Giants purchased him in September 1941. A left-hander who both threw and batted lefty, he spent parts of 12 major-league seasons (1941-42, 1946-53 with the Giants, plus stints with the 1954 Baltimore Orioles and 1954-55 Milwaukee Braves), compiling a 92-107 record with a 3.68 ERA and 606 strikeouts over 348 appearances. His standout year came in 1949, when he led the National League in ERA at 2.50 despite an 11-14 record. Koslo's signature moment arrived in the 1951 World Series: starting Game One at Yankee Stadium, he tossed a complete-game seven-hitter to beat the Yankees 5-1, though he later took the loss in the deciding Game Six. He also surrendered Jackie Robinson's first big-league home run in 1947, and served as an Army paratrooper with the 13th Airborne Division from 1942 to 1945. He nickname "Dave" came from an aunt, Marcella, and he shortened Koslowski to Koslo for cleaner newspaper spelling. This card sits in the scarce 1952 Topps high-number series (#311-407), printed in far lower quantities and prized by collectors today. Menasha later renamed its baseball field Koslo Park in his honor; he died in 1975 at age 55.
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 | 499 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 56 | 98 | 93 | 222 | 5 |
| SGC | 113 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 69 | 3 |
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 Dave Koslo card?
It is card #336 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Giants 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 Dave Koslo 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.