1952 Topps #399 Jim Fridley
1952 Topps #399 Jim Fridley
About Jim Fridley
A rugged 6-foot-2 right-handed outfielder nicknamed "Big Jim," James Riley Fridley was born in 1924 in Philippi, West Virginia, attended West Virginia University on a football scholarship, and signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in 1948 after four years of Army service in World War II. He broke into the majors with Cleveland on April 15, 1952 — the very year this card was issued — and went on to play three big-league seasons, adding stints with the Baltimore Orioles (1954) and Cincinnati Redlegs (1958). Primarily a left fielder, he batted .248 with 105 hits, 8 home runs, and 53 RBI over 152 games. His signature moment came on April 29, 1952, when he went a perfect 6-for-6 for the Indians in a 21-9 rout of the Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park. In one of the game's footnotes, he was later part of the largest player trade in major-league history, when Baltimore sent him and six others (including Don Larsen and Bob Turley) to the Yankees before the 1955 season. As card #399, his rookie card falls within the coveted high-number series (#311-407) of the landmark 1952 Topps set — cards printed in far smaller quantities and famously scarce today, headlined by the iconic Mickey Mantle #311. Fridley died in 2003.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 415 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 32 | 71 | 75 | 207 | 6 |
| SGC | 92 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 58 | 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 Jim Fridley card?
It is card #399 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cleveland Indians 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 Jim Fridley 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.