1952 Topps #345 Sammy White
1952 Topps #345 Sammy White
About Sammy White
Sammy Charles White (1927-1991) was a right-handed-hitting catcher who signed out of the University of Washington, where he was a college baseball player and an All-American in basketball before the Boston Red Sox secured his contract via the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. He debuted for Boston in 1951 and spent 11 major-league seasons, nine with the Red Sox (1951-1959) plus stints with the Milwaukee Braves (1961) and Philadelphia Phillies (1962), hitting .262 with 916 hits, 66 home runs and 421 RBI over 1,043 games. A durable, respected defensive backstop with a strong arm, White was named an All-Star in 1953 and enjoyed his best offensive year in 1954, batting .282 with 14 homers and 75 RBI while handling a staff that included Mel Parnell and Ellis Kinder. He owns two of the era's oddest feats: a walk-off grand slam off the legendary Satchel Paige in June 1952, and scoring three runs in a single inning during Boston's 17-run frame against Detroit in 1953. This card is White's Topps rookie card and falls in the scarce high-number series (#311-407)—the same run that carries the famous Mickey Mantle #311—cards printed in far smaller quantities and long prized by collectors.
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 | 496 | 0 | 10 | 36 | 60 | 78 | 101 | 208 | 3 |
| SGC | 96 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 56 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Boston Red Sox cards
- Don Lenhardt
- Johnny Pesky
- Dom DiMaggio
- Billy Goodman
- Mel Parnell
- Ray Scarborough
- Leo Kiely
- Karl Olson
- Ellis Kinder
- Vern Stephens
- Maurice McDermott
- Gus Niarhos
- Ken Wood
- Al Evans
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Sammy White card?
It is card #345 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Red Sox 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 Sammy White 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.