1952 Topps #294 Walker Cooper
1952 Topps #294 Walker Cooper
About Walker Cooper
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935 on the recommendation of his older brother, pitcher Mort Cooper, William Walker Cooper broke into the majors with St. Louis in 1940 and became one of the game's premier catchers over an 18-season career (1940-1957). Nicknamed "Big Coop" - and "Muley" by teammates for his strength, endurance, and stubbornness - the burly right-handed hitter earned eight All-Star selections and helped form a celebrated Cardinals battery with Mort, who won the 1942 MVP while Walker caught him. Cooper won two World Series titles with St. Louis (1942 and 1944); in the 1942 Series he drove in key runs and picked off Joe Gordon to snuff out a ninth-inning Yankee rally. After his Cardinals years he played for the Giants, Reds, Braves, Pirates, and Cubs, and on July 6, 1949, he went 6-for-7 with three homers and 10 RBI in a single game. He retired with a .285 average, 1,341 hits, 173 home runs, and 812 RBI over 1,473 games. On this scarcer fifth-series short print, Cooper is pictured with the Boston Braves, where he landed in the second half of his career.
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 | 579 | 0 | 14 | 80 | 94 | 139 | 117 | 129 | 6 |
| SGC | 91 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 23 | 33 | 2 |
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 Braves cards
- Bob Elliott
- Sam Jethroe
- Warren Spahn
- Willard Marshall
- Earl Torgeson
- John Antonelli
- Del Crandall
- Vern Bickford
- Roy Hartsfield
- Sid Gordon
- Jim Wilson
- Chet Nichols
- Tommy Holmes
- Sibby Sisti
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Walker Cooper card?
It is card #294 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 Walker Cooper 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.