1952 Topps #287 Steve Bilko
1952 Topps #287 Steve Bilko
About Steve Bilko
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a 16-year-old out of the coal-mining town of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, Steve Bilko was a burly right-handed first baseman who reached the majors with St. Louis in 1949. Over parts of ten big-league seasons (1949-1962) he also played for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Redlegs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, and the expansion Los Angeles Angels, batting .249 with 76 home runs and 276 RBI in 600 games. His true legend, though, was forged in the Pacific Coast League: with the Los Angeles Angels from 1955-1957 he won three straight PCL Most Valuable Player awards, capped by a monster 1956 Triple Crown season (.360, 55 home runs, 164 RBI) that made him a Southern California folk hero. Nicknamed "Stout Steve the Slugging Seraph" for his hulking frame, Bilko's fame was such that his surname is widely credited as the inspiration for Phil Silvers' character Sergeant Bilko. He returned to the majors with the 1961 expansion Angels and was posthumously inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 2003. This card is a scarcer series-5 short print in the landmark 1952 Topps set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Short Print
Cards 281-300 were single-printed relative to the rest of series 5 — EXCEPT #289 Holmes, #295 Cavarretta and #296 Rolfe. 17 SP cards in all.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 512 | 0 | 8 | 51 | 99 | 121 | 91 | 141 | 1 |
| SGC | 80 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 17 | 38 | 1 |
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 Steve Bilko card?
It is card #287 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player.
Is the 1952 Topps Steve Bilko 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.