1952 Topps #369 Dick Groat
About Dick Groat
A two-sport star at Duke University, Dick Groat was a basketball All-American (and the 3rd overall pick of the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1952 NBA Draft) before Branch Rickey signed him for the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 1952. He went straight to the majors with no minor-league experience, debuting on June 19, 1952 — the season captured by this rookie card. A steady, contact-hitting shortstop, Groat played 14 seasons (1952, 1955-1967) with the Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants, pairing with Bill Mazeroski to form one of the game's best double-play combinations. An eight-time All-Star, he had his signature year in 1960, winning the National League batting title (.325) and being named NL MVP while leading Pittsburgh to its first World Series crown since 1925; in Game 7 he singled to help ignite the rally that set up Mazeroski's famous walk-off homer. Groat won a second title with the 1964 Cardinals and finished with a .286 average, 2,138 hits, 39 home runs, and 707 RBI over 1,929 games. He was later inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame (2011). As card #369, this is his true rookie card and sits in the scarce high-number series (#311-407), printed in far lower quantities and heavily dumped at the time, making these cards notably rare and valuable 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 | 656 | 1 | 5 | 43 | 76 | 99 | 114 | 311 | 7 |
| SGC | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 25 | 72 | 4 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Dick Groat card?
It is card #369 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Groat 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 2026-10-05.