1952 Topps #291 Gil Coan
1952 Topps #291 Gil Coan
About Gil Coan
A speedy, left-handed-hitting outfielder from Monroe, North Carolina, Gil Coan (born May 18, 1922; died February 4, 2020) signed with the Washington Senators organization through their Chattanooga Lookouts affiliate and announced himself in the minors: in 1945 he hit .372 with 201 hits for Chattanooga and was named The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year, prompting owner Clark Griffith to reportedly reject a $100,000 offer for his contract. Coan debuted with Washington in 1946 and spent eight seasons (1946–1953) there before playing for the Baltimore Orioles (1954–1955), Chicago White Sox (1955) and New York Giants (1955–1956). A line-drive hitter and swift baserunner who stole a career-high 23 bases in 1948, he enjoyed his finest year in 1951, batting .303 with career bests of 9 home runs, 62 RBI and 85 runs. Traded to the fledgling Orioles for Roy Sievers, he recorded the first hit in the modern Baltimore franchise's history in 1954. Over 11 major-league seasons he batted .254 with 731 hits, 39 home runs, 278 RBI and 83 stolen bases in 918 games. This #291 card belongs to the 1952 Topps set's scarcer fifth series and is a recognized short print, adding a degree of scarcity for collectors.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Short Print
Cards 281-300 were single-printed relative to the rest of series 5 — EXCEPT #289 Holmes, #295 Cavarretta and #296 Rolfe. 17 SP cards in all.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 593 | 0 | 10 | 71 | 112 | 141 | 118 | 140 | 1 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 33 | 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 Gil Coan card?
It is card #291 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Washington Senators player.
Is the 1952 Topps Gil Coan 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.