1952 Topps #357 Smoky Burgess
1952 Topps #357 Smoky Burgess
About Smoky Burgess
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was a stocky left-handed-hitting catcher whose sweet swing kept him in the majors for 18 seasons (1949-1967). Signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1944 (a 1943 deal with the Cardinals had been voided by Commissioner Landis because he was underage), the North Carolina native debuted with Chicago in 1949 before moving to the Philadelphia Phillies, the team shown on this 1952 Topps card, where he played from 1952 to 1955. He went on to star for the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox, earning selection to six All-Star seasons and appearing in nine All-Star Games. A career .295 hitter, Burgess amassed 1,318 hits, 126 home runs, and 673 RBI. He was a key contributor to the Pirates' 1960 World Series championship, batting .333 in the seven-game upset of the Yankees. Later famous as baseball's premier pinch hitter, he retired as the all-time leader with 145 career pinch hits, a mark broken by Manny Mota in 1979. Explanations for the "Smoky" nickname vary, from the nearby Smoky Mountains to his notable lack of foot speed. As card #357, Burgess falls within 1952 Topps' scarce high-number series (#311-407), a run printed in far smaller quantities and famously dumped by Topps, which makes these cards prized and elusive today.
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 | 570 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 74 | 88 | 105 | 257 | 2 |
| SGC | 121 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 75 | 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 Smoky Burgess card?
It is card #357 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Philadelphia Phillies player.
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 Smoky Burgess 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.