1952 Topps #118 Ken Raffensberger
1952 Topps #118 Ken Raffensberger
About Ken Raffensberger
A crafty left-handed pitcher from York, Pennsylvania, Ken Raffensberger climbed through the minor leagues before reaching the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1939, opening a 15-season career (1939-1954) that also took him to the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. Though he leaned on a rising fastball early, he later mixed a forkball, slow curve, and changeup into one of the widest arrays of deliveries in the league. His signature season came in 1944 with a last-place Phillies club: he made the National League All-Star team and won the All-Star Game with scoreless relief, yet the same summer he led the NL in losses with 20 -- a testament to pitching well for a poor team. Dealt to Cincinnati in 1947 in a swap Phillies owner Bob Carpenter later called his "worst trade," Raffensberger became a Reds mainstay for seven years and twice led the league in shutouts (five in 1949, six in 1952, the year of this card). He finished 119-154 with a 3.60 ERA, 806 strikeouts, and 31 career shutouts -- a total that trailed only Warren Spahn among active pitchers when he retired. This mid-number card (#118, second series) sits well below the scarce high-number run (#311 Mantle and beyond), so it remains one of the more attainable pitcher cards from the landmark 1952 Topps set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 860 | 2 | 5 | 82 | 154 | 183 | 177 | 252 | 5 |
| SGC | 126 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 26 | 65 | 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 Ken Raffensberger card?
It is card #118 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Cincinnati Reds player.
Is the 1952 Topps Ken Raffensberger 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.