1952 Topps #354 Fred Hatfield
About Fred Hatfield
Fred James Hatfield was a left-handed-hitting infielder signed by Boston Red Sox scout Herb Brett in 1942 out of Troy, North Carolina; he served as a WWII paratrooper before resuming his career in 1946 and reaching the majors with the Red Sox in 1950. Traded to Detroit in June 1952, he finally won regular duty and established himself as one of the American League's slickest-fielding third basemen, leading the circuit in fielding average and assists that season. Nicknamed "Scrap Iron" for his grit and knack for taking a pitch — he repeatedly ranked among league leaders in being hit by pitches — Hatfield played nine big-league seasons (1950–1958) with the Red Sox, Tigers, White Sox, Indians, and Reds, seeing time at third base, second base, and shortstop. Over 722 games he batted .242 with 493 hits, 25 home runs, and 165 RBI. After his playing days he coached, most notably serving as Florida State University's head baseball coach (1964–68) with a 161–57 (.739) record, and later returned to Detroit as a big-league third-base coach in 1977–78. This is Hatfield's rookie card, and as #354 it falls within the scarce 1952 Topps high-number series (#311–407), which was printed in far smaller quantities and makes the card comparatively hard to find 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 | 458 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 58 | 85 | 82 | 199 | 1 |
| SGC | 93 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 54 | 5 |
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 Fred Hatfield card?
It is card #354 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Detroit Tigers 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 Fred Hatfield 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.