1952 Topps #286 Joe DeMaestri
1952 Topps #286 Joe DeMaestri
About Joe DeMaestri
A slick-fielding shortstop from San Francisco, Joe DeMaestri (1928-2016) signed out of the Boston Red Sox organization in the late 1940s and reached the majors after the Chicago White Sox claimed him in the 1950 Rule 5 Draft. He debuted in 1951 and played 11 big-league seasons for the White Sox (1951), St. Louis Browns (1952), Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics (1953-59), and New York Yankees (1960-61), batting .236 with 813 hits, 49 home runs, and 281 RBI in 1,121 games. His reputation rested on his glove: he led American League shortstops in fielding percentage in both 1957 and 1958 and was named an AL All-Star in 1957. On July 8, 1955, he went 6-for-6 (all singles) against Detroit, one of the rare six-hit games in big-league history. Nicknamed "Froggy," DeMaestri was traded to the Yankees in December 1959 as part of the seven-player deal that brought Roger Maris to New York; in the 1960 World Series he relieved the injured Tony Kubek at shortstop in Game 7. This is his rookie card, issued in the landmark first Topps flagship set and cataloged as a short print, showing him with the St. Louis Browns.
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 | 587 | 0 | 13 | 78 | 105 | 118 | 121 | 152 | 0 |
| SGC | 107 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 25 | 43 | 0 |
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 Joe DeMaestri card?
It is card #286 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Browns player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1952 Topps Joe DeMaestri 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.