1952 Topps #379 Joe Rossi
1952 Topps #379 Joe Rossi
About Joe Rossi
Joseph Anthony Rossi, a right-handed catcher born March 13, 1921, in Oakland, California, was a career minor-leaguer who reached the majors for a single season. He toiled for 14 years in the minors between 1941 and 1956, catching for clubs such as the Merced Bears, Idaho Falls Russets, Sacramento Solons, Tacoma Tigers, and Portland Beavers before finally getting his chance at age 31. Rossi debuted with the Cincinnati Reds on April 20, 1952, serving as the backup to starting catcher Andy Seminick. Over 55 games that lone big-league season he hit .221 (32-for-145) with 1 home run and 6 RBI, scoring 14 runs and stealing a base, before his final MLB appearance on September 12, 1952. His path to the majors came despite manager Rogers Hornsby, who oversaw him in the Pacific Coast League, reportedly predicting Rossi would never make it. He closed out his career in 1956 as player-manager of the Spokane Indians in the Northwest League and later died in his hometown of Oakland on February 20, 1999. His card is one of the coveted 1952 Topps high numbers (#311-407), the scarce final series printed in far smaller quantities, which makes this rookie card of a one-season player surprisingly desirable to set collectors today.
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 | 480 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 38 | 96 | 87 | 227 | 3 |
| SGC | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 69 | 2 |
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 Rossi card?
It is card #379 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 Rossi 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.