1952 Topps #94 Sam Mele
1952 Topps #94 Sam Mele
About Sam Mele
Sabath Anthony "Sam" Mele was born January 21, 1922, in Astoria, Queens, New York, to Italian immigrant parents. A standout basketball and baseball player at New York University, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox and, after Marine Corps service in World War II, made his major-league debut on April 15, 1947. A right-handed-hitting right fielder, Mele played ten seasons (1947-1956) for seven clubs: the Red Sox, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Cleveland Indians. His best years came with Washington, where he drove in 86 and 94 runs in 1950-51 and led the American League with 36 doubles in 1951. He retired with a .267 average, 916 hits, 80 home runs, and 544 RBI over 1,046 games. The nickname "Sam" came from his given name Sabath in his minor-league days. His greatest fame came managing the Minnesota Twins (1961-1967): he guided them to the 1965 AL pennant and a seven-game World Series against the Dodgers, earning Manager of the Year honors. He died May 1, 2017, at age 95. This is his Series 2 card in the landmark 1952 Topps set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 805 | 0 | 5 | 72 | 109 | 218 | 179 | 218 | 4 |
| SGC | 125 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 33 | 63 | 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 Sam Mele card?
It is card #94 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Washington Senators player.
Is the 1952 Topps Sam Mele 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.