1952 Topps #227 Joe Garagiola
1952 Topps #227 Joe Garagiola
About Joe Garagiola
Joe Garagiola (1926-2016), a St. Louis native signed by the Cardinals organization as a teenager, was a left-handed-hitting catcher who reached the majors in 1946 at age 20 after wartime service in the Pacific. As a rookie he helped St. Louis win the 1946 World Series, starring in Game 4 with a 4-for-5, three-RBI performance against the Red Sox. Over nine seasons he caught for the Cardinals (1946-51), Pittsburgh Pirates (1951-53), Chicago Cubs (1953-54) and New York Giants (1954), batting .257 with 481 hits, 42 home runs and 255 RBI in 676 games; his 1951 trade to Pittsburgh is why this 1952 Topps card lists him with the Pirates. Garagiola grew up on "The Hill," St. Louis's Italian-American neighborhood, across the street from boyhood friend Yogi Berra, and self-deprecatingly joked he "wasn't even the best catcher on my street." He became far more famous after retiring, building a nearly 30-year broadcasting career at NBC (Game of the Week, World Series, and the Today show) that earned him the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters in 1991.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,065 | 0 | 11 | 81 | 178 | 228 | 223 | 341 | 3 |
| SGC | 267 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 23 | 74 | 140 | 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 Joe Garagiola card?
It is card #227 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Is the 1952 Topps Joe Garagiola 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.