1952 Topps #346 George Spencer
1952 Topps #346 George Spencer
About George Spencer
George Elwell Spencer (1926-2014) was a right-handed relief pitcher who reached the majors with the New York Giants and appeared in eight big-league seasons. A Bexley, Ohio native, he starred at Ohio State University as both the varsity football quarterback and a pitcher before signing with the Giants in 1947, when Hall of Famer Mel Ott inked him to a $6,000 contract on scout Marty Purtell's recommendation. Spencer debuted in 1950 and became a key bullpen arm on the fabled 1951 Giants, going 10-4 and leading the club in saves as New York erased a huge August deficit and captured the National League pennant on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." He drew a National League Rookie of the Year vote that season (the award went to teammate Willie Mays) and pitched in two games of the 1951 World Series against the Yankees, retiring Joe DiMaggio both times he faced him. Spencer pitched for the Giants through 1955 and returned with the Detroit Tigers in 1958 and 1960, finishing 16-10 with a 4.05 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 122 appearances. This is his rookie card, and it falls in the scarce high-number series (#311-407) that was printed in far lower quantities and often dumped, making these cards genuinely rare 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 | 538 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 81 | 89 | 93 | 236 | 3 |
| SGC | 106 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 66 | 4 |
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 Spencer card?
It is card #346 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Giants 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 Spencer 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.