1952 Topps #252 Vern Bickford
1952 Topps #252 Vern Bickford
About Vern Bickford
Vern Bickford was a right-handed pitcher who signed with the Welch Miners of the Class D Mountain State League in 1939 after playing semipro ball, then reached the majors with the Boston Braves, debuting on April 24, 1948. He spent his best years with the Braves franchise (Boston 1948-1952, Milwaukee 1953) before a final 1954 season with the Baltimore Orioles. As a rookie he helped Boston to the 1948 National League pennant, going 11-5 with a 3.27 ERA and starting Game 3 of the World Series against Cleveland. Named to the 1949 All-Star team, he peaked in 1950 with a 19-14 record and 3.47 ERA while leading the NL in complete games (27) and innings pitched (311 1/3). His signature moment came on August 11, 1950, when he threw a 7-0 no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Braves Field. Arm troubles cut his career short, and he finished 66-57 with a 3.71 ERA and 450 strikeouts. He died of cancer in 1960 at age 39. This card is part of the 1952 Topps set, the landmark first Topps flagship issue whose scarce high-number series (#311-407, including the iconic Mickey Mantle #311) is prized by collectors today; Bickford's #252, though in the later print run, falls just below that rarer high-number tier.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 488 | 0 | 4 | 34 | 66 | 134 | 99 | 150 | 1 |
| SGC | 80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 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 Vern Bickford card?
It is card #252 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Braves player.
Is the 1952 Topps Vern Bickford 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.