1952 Topps #274 Ralph Branca
1952 Topps #274 Ralph Branca
About Ralph Branca
Ralph Branca was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who attended New York University before the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him, and he debuted in the majors on June 12, 1944, at age 18. Over 12 seasons he pitched primarily for Brooklyn (1944-1953, 1956) with later stops with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, finishing 88-68 with a 3.79 ERA and 829 strikeouts across roughly 1,484 innings. A three-time All-Star (1947-1949), his signature season came in 1947, when he went 21-12 with a 2.67 ERA, helped Brooklyn win the National League pennant, and started Game 1 of the World Series. Wearing jersey number 13, Branca is best remembered for surrendering Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning walk-off home run for the New York Giants on October 3, 1951, the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" at the Polo Grounds. Nicknamed "Hawk," he later became close friends with Thomson; he was never elected to the Hall of Fame and died November 23, 2016, at age 90. This card sits in the 1952 Topps set's Series 5, printed before the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that includes the hobby's famed Mickey Mantle #311.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 641 | 0 | 6 | 58 | 90 | 144 | 118 | 223 | 2 |
| SGC | 149 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 23 | 86 | 6 |
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 Ralph Branca card?
It is card #274 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Brooklyn Dodgers player.
Is the 1952 Topps Ralph Branca 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.