1952 Topps #269 Willard Nixon
1952 Topps #269 Willard Nixon
About Willard Nixon
Willard Lee Nixon was a right-handed pitcher who spent his entire nine-year major-league career (1950-1958) with the Boston Red Sox. A native of Taylorsville, Georgia, he starred at Auburn University (then Alabama Polytechnic Institute), where he set a Southeastern Conference strikeout record that stood for 39 years, and the Red Sox signed him as a free agent in 1948. He debuted at Yankee Stadium on July 7, 1950, and went on to post a 69-72 record with a 4.39 ERA and 616 strikeouts across 225 appearances, including 177 starts, 51 complete games, and nine shutouts. Nixon's best years came in the mid-1950s, winning a career-high 12 games in 1955. He is best remembered by his nickname, the "Yankee Killer," earned for his knack for beating the dominant New York Yankees; in 1955 alone four of his wins came against New York, and in 1956 he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against them. An unusually good hitter for a pitcher, he batted .242 for his career and led all American League pitchers with a .293 average in 1957. Chronic arm trouble ended his playing days after 1958, and he later scouted for Boston. This card (#269) falls in the fifth series, just short of the scarce, coveted high-number run (#311-407) that includes the celebrated Mickey Mantle #311.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 539 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 95 | 120 | 129 | 147 | 4 |
| SGC | 74 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 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 Willard Nixon card?
It is card #269 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Boston Red Sox player.
Is the 1952 Topps Willard Nixon 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.