1952 Topps #302 Max Surkont
About Max Surkont
Matthew Constantine "Max" Surkont was a right-handed pitcher from Central Falls, Rhode Island (born June 16, 1922; died 1986), who carried the nickname "Max" from his childhood friends rather than his given name. Signed as a teenager out of a Providence tryout by St. Louis Cardinals scout Charles "Pop" Kelchner in the late 1930s, he spent nearly a decade in the minor leagues before the Chicago White Sox drafted him and gave him his major-league debut on April 19, 1949. Over nine big-league seasons (1949-1957) he pitched for the White Sox, the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the New York Giants, compiling a 61-76 record with a 4.38 ERA and 571 strikeouts across 236 appearances. His signature moment came on May 25, 1953, when, pitching for Milwaukee against Cincinnati, he struck out eight consecutive batters (13 in the game) in a 10-3 win, a modern major-league record that stood until Tom Seaver fanned ten in a row in 1970. This 1952 Topps card, from the set's fifth series, is Surkont's rookie card, issued just as he was emerging as a Braves rotation regular.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 542 | 0 | 6 | 49 | 85 | 138 | 106 | 156 | 2 |
| SGC | 78 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 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 Max Surkont card?
It is card #302 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Braves player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1952 Topps Max Surkont 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.