1952 Topps #197 George Strickland
1952 Topps #197 George Strickland
About George Strickland
A slick-fielding shortstop out of New Orleans, George "Bo" Strickland signed with the hometown New Orleans Pelicans, a Brooklyn Dodgers farm club, after the 1943 American Legion World Series, then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before reaching the majors. He debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 7, 1950, and this 1952 Topps card captures his final Pittsburgh season; midway through 1952 he was traded to the Cleveland Indians, where he spent the balance of a ten-year career (1950-1957, 1959-1960). Strickland was the everyday shortstop for the storied 1954 Indians, who went 111-43 to win the American League pennant, though Cleveland was swept by the New York Giants in the World Series and Strickland went hitless in nine at-bats. Known more for his glove than his bat, he led all regular AL shortstops in fielding percentage in 1955 and finished with a .224 average, 36 home runs, and 284 RBI over 971 games. His nickname "Bo" was a shortening of "Bobo," pinned on him as a child for all the scrapes and bruises ("bobos") he collected. He later served two stints as interim manager of the Indians (1964 and 1966), becoming the first New Orleans native to manage in the majors.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 731 | 0 | 9 | 78 | 130 | 204 | 148 | 157 | 5 |
| SGC | 106 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 31 | 45 | 3 |
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 Strickland card?
It is card #197 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.
Is the 1952 Topps George Strickland 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.