1952 Topps #226 Dave Philley
1952 Topps #226 Dave Philley
About Dave Philley
Signed by Chicago White Sox scout Hub Northern in 1940 as a catcher, David Earl Philley was converted to the outfield in the minors to make use of his speed and reached the majors with the White Sox in 1941. A switch-hitter who threw right-handed, he had originally batted left-handed but learned to hit from the right side after breaking his left arm in a childhood fall. Over an 18-year career (1941-1962) he played for eight clubs — the White Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox — batting .270 with 1,700 hits, 84 home runs and 729 RBI over 1,904 games. A steady defender, he led American League outfielders in assists three times (1948, 1950, 1953), and his best season came in 1953 with the Athletics, when he hit .303 with 188 hits. His lone World Series came in 1954 with the pennant-winning Indians, who were swept by the Giants. Philley later became one of the game's premier pinch-hitters: he closed the 1958 season with the Phillies on eight straight pinch hits and singled in his first at-bat of 1959 to make it nine in a row, a record at the time, and in 1961 he set an American League mark with 24 pinch hits for Baltimore. This 1952 Topps card (#226) comes from the fourth series, well ahead of the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that includes the famous Mickey Mantle. Philley was born May 16, 1920, near Paris, Texas, and died there in 2012 at age 91.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 660 | 0 | 5 | 72 | 136 | 148 | 135 | 159 | 5 |
| SGC | 108 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 17 | 31 | 44 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Dave Philley card?
It is card #226 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Athletics player.
Is the 1952 Topps Dave Philley 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.