1952 Topps #406 Joe Nuxhall
1952 Topps #406 Joe Nuxhall
About Joe Nuxhall
A hard-throwing left-handed pitcher from Hamilton, Ohio, Joe Nuxhall signed his first professional contract with the Cincinnati Reds on February 18, 1944, while still a ninth-grader. On June 10, 1944, manager Bill McKechnie sent the 15-year-old into a lopsided loss to the Cardinals, making Nuxhall the youngest player ever to appear in a major-league game (15 years, 316 days) — a record he still holds. After that rough debut he did not return to the majors for eight years; his comeback in 1952 is the same season this rookie card was issued. Over 16 big-league seasons, mostly with the Reds (also brief stops with the Kansas City Athletics and Los Angeles/Cincinnati in 1961-62), he went 135-117 with a 3.90 ERA and 1,372 strikeouts. Nuxhall was a two-time All-Star (1955 and 1956), led the National League with five shutouts in 1955, won 17 games that year, and earned Comeback Player of the Year honors in 1963. Known as "The Ol' Left-Hander" — from his radio sign-off "rounding third and heading for home" — he became a beloved Reds broadcaster for roughly four decades until his death in 2007, and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1968. As card #406, this rookie belongs to the scarce high-number series (#311-407), printed in far smaller quantities than earlier cards and prized by collectors today.
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 | 561 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 45 | 69 | 90 | 316 | 7 |
| SGC | 178 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 28 | 110 | 11 |
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 Nuxhall card?
It is card #406 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds 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 Joe Nuxhall 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.