1952 Topps #124 Monte Kennedy
1952 Topps #124 Monte Kennedy
About Monte Kennedy
Montia Calvin "Monte" Kennedy (1922-1997), a hard-throwing but wild left-handed pitcher, was born in Amelia, Virginia, which earned him the nickname the "Amelia Beauty." A high-school first baseman turned hurler, he signed with the Class B Richmond Colts of the Piedmont League for $150 a month, then sharpened his pitching in the Army Air Corps during World War II, reportedly going 41-10 over three years. Impressed by his arm, the New York Giants purchased his contract from Richmond in 1946 for $25,000. Kennedy pitched all eight of his major-league seasons (1946-1953) for the Giants, working in 249 games with 127 starts. As a rookie in 1946 he led the National League in walks (116), and control troubles followed him throughout his career, but his best year came in 1949, when he went 12-14 with a 3.43 ERA and career highs of 14 complete games and four shutouts. He finished 42-55 with a 3.84 ERA and 411 strikeouts. A member of the pennant-winning 1951 Giants, he made two relief appearances in the World Series against the Yankees, striking out Joe DiMaggio and Gene Woodling in Game 4 before yielding a two-run homer to Phil Rizzuto in Game 5. After baseball, Kennedy became a Richmond police detective. His card sits in the second series of the landmark 1952 Topps set, the more available portion below the scarce, coveted high numbers (#311-407) that begin with the iconic Mickey Mantle.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 903 | 0 | 7 | 85 | 150 | 205 | 204 | 245 | 7 |
| SGC | 128 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 27 | 59 | 3 |
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 Monte Kennedy card?
It is card #124 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Giants player.
Is the 1952 Topps Monte Kennedy 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.