1952 Topps #332 Tony Bartirome
1952 Topps #332 Tony Bartirome
About Tony Bartirome
Tony Bartirome (May 9, 1932 - June 22, 2018) was a slick-fielding, left-handed first baseman signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates off the Oakmont, Pennsylvania sandlots, and after just one minor-league season he jumped straight to the majors. He made his big-league debut on April 19, 1952, at only 19 years old, and became the regular first baseman for that season's Pirates - a famously bad club that lost 112 games and, for its lineup of small, young players, earned the nickname the "Rickey Dinks" after general manager Branch Rickey. Bartirome hit .220 with 78 hits, no home runs, and 16 RBI in 124 games, but was respected for his glove work around the bag. It proved to be his entire major-league career: inducted into the U.S. Army in 1953, he never returned to the big leagues, though he kept playing in the minors through 1963. He spent decades in the game afterward as the Pirates' longtime trainer (1967-1985) and later a coach for the Atlanta Braves (1986-1988). His card is No. 332 in the scarce high-number series (#311-407) of the landmark 1952 Topps set - the run that also contains the iconic Mickey Mantle #311 - making this one-year rookie's card genuinely tough to find today.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 621 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 59 | 77 | 88 | 345 | 9 |
| SGC | 134 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 89 | 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 Tony Bartirome card?
It is card #332 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Tony Bartirome 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.