1952 Topps #295 Phil Cavarretta
1952 Topps #295 Phil Cavarretta
About Phil Cavarretta
A hometown Cubs favorite, Phil Cavarretta was signed out of Chicago's Lane Tech High School and reached the majors in September 1934 at age 18, homering in his first big-league start off Cincinnati's Whitey Wistert for the only run in a 1-0 Wrigley Field win. The left-handed first baseman spent 20 of his 22 seasons with the Cubs (1934-1953) before finishing with the crosstown White Sox (1954-1955), batting .293 with 1,977 hits, 95 home runs, and 920 RBI over 2,030 games. A four-time All-Star (1944-1947), he peaked in 1945, winning the National League MVP and the batting title with a .355 average while leading the Cubs to their last pennant of the century; he also played in the 1935, 1938, and 1945 World Series. Nicknamed "Philibuck" by manager Charlie Grimm, Cavarretta served as the Cubs' player-manager from 1951 to 1953, and in 1952 - the year of this card, which lists him as manager - he became the first Italian American to pilot a major-league club for a full season, guiding Chicago to a 77-77 finish. He was later dismissed in spring 1954, becoming the first manager fired during spring training.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 557 | 0 | 6 | 61 | 91 | 115 | 122 | 157 | 5 |
| SGC | 96 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 24 | 47 | 4 |
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 Phil Cavarretta card?
It is card #295 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago Cubs manager.
Is the 1952 Topps Phil Cavarretta 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.