1952 Topps #390 Glenn Nelson
1952 Topps #390 Glenn Nelson
About Glenn Nelson
Glenn Richard "Rocky" Nelson (1924-2006) was a left-handed-hitting first baseman signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1942, originally as a pitcher before general manager Branch Rickey converted him to first base. He earned the nickname "Rocky" after teammate Whitey Kurowski struck him in the head with a ball during a pepper game and he walked away unhurt. Nelson became one of the greatest hitters in minor-league history, winning three International League MVP awards (1953, 1955, 1958) and Triple Crowns in 1955 and 1958, yet he never fully replicated that success in the majors. Over nine big-league seasons (1949-1961) with the Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Cleveland Indians, he was a career .249 hitter with 31 home runs and 173 RBI in 620 games. His signature moment came in 1960: after batting .300 as the Pirates' first baseman against right-handers, he homered in Game 7 of the World Series against the Yankees, staking Pittsburgh to a 2-0 lead in the game Bill Mazeroski would win with his famous walk-off homer. This 1952 Topps card belongs to the scarce high-number series (#311-407), printed in far smaller quantities and famously dumped, which makes it and Nelson's other high-number cards genuinely rare today; it captures him with the Brooklyn Dodgers early in his well-traveled career.
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 | 499 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 59 | 86 | 94 | 226 | 3 |
| SGC | 106 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 73 | 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 Glenn Nelson card?
It is card #390 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 Glenn Nelson 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.