1952 Topps #338 Sal Yvars
1952 Topps #338 Sal Yvars
About Sal Yvars
Salvador Anthony Yvars (February 20, 1924 - December 10, 2008), a Manhattan-born right-handed catcher, signed with the New York Giants in 1942, served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, then reached the majors through the farm system, debuting in 1947. A backup backstop, he played eight seasons for the Giants (1947-1953) and St. Louis Cardinals (1953-1954), batting .244 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI in 210 games. Yvars was on the pennant-winning 1951 Giants and famously made the final out of the 1951 World Series, popping out as the Yankees closed out Game 6. He earned lasting notoriety for his role in the Giants' 1951 sign-stealing scheme, later claiming he flashed Bobby Thomson the fastball sign before the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." After baseball he spent decades as an investment advisor. As a high-number card (#338, the scarce final series), this rookie is among the tougher 1952 Topps issues to find.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number
Series 6 (311-407). Minimally distributed in the fall of 1952 when retailers cut orders — the scarcest and most coveted run in the set, holding Mantle, Robinson, Campanella, the Mathews rookie and more.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 514 | 0 | 7 | 51 | 52 | 79 | 89 | 229 | 7 |
| SGC | 91 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 55 | 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 Sal Yvars card?
It is card #338 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, and is his rookie card.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1952 Topps high-number series (311-407), which was minimally distributed in the fall of 1952 and is the scarcest, most sought-after run in the set.
Is the 1952 Topps Sal Yvars 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.