1952 Topps #8 Fred Marsh
1952 Topps #8 Fred Marsh
About Fred Marsh
Fred Francis Marsh (January 5, 1924 - October 26, 2006) was a right-handed infielder, primarily a third baseman, who also saw time at shortstop and second base across a seven-year major-league career. Born in Valley Falls, Kansas, he was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1942 out of Chicago's Steinmetz High School, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and reached the majors with the Cleveland Indians on April 19, 1949, appearing in a single game as a pinch runner. Traded to the St. Louis Browns on April 1, 1951 (with $35,000 for Snuffy Stirnweiss and Merl Combs), Marsh enjoyed his busiest season that year, playing 130 games and hitting .243. He went on to play for the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles, finishing his career in 1956. Over 465 games he batted .239 with 296 hits, 10 home runs, and 96 RBI, and was never selected to an All-Star team. This is his rookie card, a low-number first-series issue found with the black-back and red-back color variation. After baseball he spent many years as a postal carrier, and he died in Corry, Pennsylvania, in 2006.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Variations & how to tell them apart
Black Back / Red Back Series 1 (cards 1-80)
Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
- Black Back — scarcer: First printing. Reverse printed in black ink. Scarcer, and typically carries a small premium over the red back.
- Red Back: Second printing onward. Reverse printed in red ink. The more common of the two.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 712 | 2 | 3 | 40 | 97 | 167 | 172 | 229 | 2 |
| SGC | 86 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 48 | 2 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 45 · Red Back 41
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 Marsh card?
It is card #8 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Browns player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1952 Topps Fred Marsh have back variations?
Yes. Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
Is the 1952 Topps Fred Marsh 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.