1952 Topps #404 Dick Brodowski
1952 Topps #404 Dick Brodowski
About Dick Brodowski
Richard Stanley Brodowski was a right-handed pitcher born July 26, 1932, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Boston Red Sox scout Bill McCarren signed him in 1951, and though Brodowski entered pro ball as a third baseman, an injury-thinned staff at Class D Marion pushed him to the mound, where he broke out with a 21-5 record. After a fast 7-1 start at Triple-A Louisville, he debuted for the Red Sox on June 14, 1952, at age 19; that summer he went 5-5 with a 4.41 ERA, and a four-hit, 4-3 win over the AL-champion Yankees drew praise for his potential from Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra. Military service in the U.S. Army (1953-54) at Fort Dix during the Korean War interrupted his development. He returned to Boston in 1955, then pitched for the Washington Senators (1956-57) and Cleveland Indians (1958-59), finishing 9-11 with a 4.76 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 5 saves over 72 games. His rookie card lands in the coveted high-number series (#311-407) of the landmark 1952 Topps set, cards printed in far smaller quantities and famously dumped as overstock, making them scarce and prized today. Brodowski died January 14, 2019, in Lynn, Massachusetts.
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 | 482 | 0 | 4 | 35 | 48 | 84 | 88 | 221 | 2 |
| SGC | 97 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 61 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Boston Red Sox cards
- Don Lenhardt
- Johnny Pesky
- Dom DiMaggio
- Billy Goodman
- Mel Parnell
- Ray Scarborough
- Leo Kiely
- Karl Olson
- Ellis Kinder
- Vern Stephens
- Maurice McDermott
- Gus Niarhos
- Ken Wood
- Al Evans
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Dick Brodowski card?
It is card #404 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Red Sox 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 Dick Brodowski 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.