1952 Topps #326 George Shuba
1952 Topps #326 George Shuba
About George Shuba
George "Shotgun" Shuba was a left-handed outfielder and pinch-hitter who signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1943 and reached the majors on July 2, 1948. Over seven seasons with Brooklyn (1948-1955), he batted .259 with 211 hits, 24 home runs, and 125 RBI, peaking in 1952 when he hit .305 with nine homers and 40 RBI for the pennant-winning Dodgers. A dependable role player, he made his mark in October: in the 1953 World Series opener he became the first National League player ever to hit a pinch-hit home run in a Fall Classic, and he earned a championship ring when Brooklyn finally won the 1955 World Series over the Yankees. His nickname "Shotgun" came from the way he sprayed compact line drives to all fields, like buckshot, out of a swing he honed by striking a knotted rope hundreds of times a day. Shuba is best remembered beyond the box score for a 1946 moment with the Triple-A Montreal Royals, when he greeted teammate Jackie Robinson at home plate after a home run in an image dubbed "A Handshake for the Century," an early symbol of integration in the sport. Born December 13, 1924, in Youngstown, Ohio, he died September 29, 2014. His card #326 is a rookie card residing in the scarce 1952 Topps high-number series (#311-407), the low-printed final run that makes even role-player cards genuinely 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 | 505 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 56 | 75 | 96 | 256 | 4 |
| SGC | 115 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 72 | 8 |
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 George Shuba card?
It is card #326 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Brooklyn Dodgers 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 George Shuba 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.