1952 Topps #11 Phil Rizzuto
1952 Topps #11 Phil Rizzuto
About Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto signed with the New York Yankees out of the minor leagues, earning The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year award with the Kansas City Blues in 1940 before debuting in 1941. A right-handed shortstop, he spent his entire 13-season career (1941-1942, 1946-1956) in pinstripes, losing three years to World War II military service in between. Nicknamed "the Scooter" by minor-league teammate Billy Hitchcock for his short, scooting strides on the bases, Rizzuto was a five-time All-Star (1942, 1950-1953) and the 1950 American League MVP, when he hit .324 with 200 hits, 125 runs, and 92 walks. He batted .273 lifetime with 1,588 hits, 38 home runs, and 563 RBI, and anchored one of baseball's great dynasties, winning seven World Series titles (1941, 1947, 1949-1953). In a tight 1951 pennant-race game he laid down a ninth-inning suicide-squeeze bunt to score Joe DiMaggio with the winning run, a play Casey Stengel called the greatest he ever saw. After his release in 1956 he became a beloved Yankees broadcaster for four decades, famous for his "Holy cow!" call, and the Veterans Committee elected him to the Hall of Fame in 1994.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Black Back / Red Back Series 1 (cards 1-80)
Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
- Black Back — scarcer: First printing. Reverse printed in black ink. Scarcer, and typically carries a small premium over the red back.
- Red Back: Second printing onward. Reverse printed in red ink. The more common of the two.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,519 | 0 | 3 | 32 | 93 | 174 | 265 | 937 | 15 |
| SGC | 621 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 66 | 494 | 34 |
SGC by variation: Black Back 291 · Red Back 330
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 Rizzuto card?
It is card #11 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the New York Yankees player.
Does the 1952 Topps Phil Rizzuto have back variations?
Yes. Every card in the first series exists with the back printed in either black or red ink. The black backs are the first printing and are scarcer; red backs (the second printing onward) are more common.
Is the 1952 Topps Phil Rizzuto 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.