Manufacturer: Bowman
Set: 1952 Bowman Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Roy McMillan
Position/Team: Infield for Reds
Card #: 238
Card Size: 2-1/16” x 3-1/8”
Card Value Snapshot: Raw/Ungraded: $8 | Grade 7: $100
⬇️ See More Pricing Data Below
Roy David McMillan was the premier defensive wizard at shortstop in the National League throughout the 1950s, setting a standard of vacuum-like execution at the position for the Cincinnati Reds.
In an era when shortstops were primarily judged by the range of their gloves rather than the pop in their bats, McMillan was a master class in positioning, footwork, and acrobatic throws. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing a lean 160 pounds, he anchored the middle of the Reds’ infield with breathtaking consistency. Alongside second baseman Johnny Temple, McMillan formed one of the most celebrated double-play combinations of the post-war era, providing the elite defensive balance required by a Cincinnati pitching staff that routinely played in the tight confines of Crosley Field.
McMillan assumed the everyday shortstop role for Cincinnati in 1952 and immediately established himself as an indispensable, iron-man defender. His defensive excellence earned massive recognition as the decade progressed.
The Inaugural Legacy: When Major League Baseball established the Gold Glove Award in 1957 to honor the absolute finest defensive players at each position, McMillan was the undisputed choice as the National League’s inaugural Gold Glove shortstop.
The Three-Peat: He proved his defensive mastery was an annual guarantee by capturing the award again in 1958 and 1959, locking down the position during a highly competitive era of National League infield play.
The Record Setter: He led National League shortstops in putouts four times, assists three times, and double plays turned five times. In 1954, he set a then-Major League record by turning 129 double plays in a single season.
Teams Played For: Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs (1951–1960), Milwaukee Braves (1961–1964), New York Mets (1964–1966).
Career Totals: 2,028 games, 1,639 hits, 68 home runs, 594 RBIs, and a .243 lifetime batting average.
Accolades: 2-time National League All-Star (1956, 1957), 3-time Gold Glove Winner (1957–1959).
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
Tracking the current market value for the 1952 Bowman Roy McMillan Card #238. Below, find updated pricing data for ungraded (raw) copies, as well as verified PSA graded sales trends collected from secondary marketplaces.
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Raw/Ungraded: $8
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Grade 3: $15
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Grade 4: $25
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Grade 5: $33
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Grade 6: $35
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Grade 7: $100
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Grade 8: $200
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Grade 9: -
Data Updated: July 2026
➡️ See All 1952 Bowman Rookie Card Prices
Pricing data includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
These values are collated from a variety of resources including recently sold listings, sales averages and a variety of other sports card pricing data sources. Please see full disclaimer on “Terms Page” for more information. (Rookiecardprices.com only shows values for regular base set cards. No prices are shown for errors, parallels, subsets, misprints or other cards unless noted.)
DISCLAIMER: This data is not intended as financial advice and should not be used as such. Please do your own research before making any investment or selling/buying decisions.
Did You Know? While his glove did the heavy lifting, McMillan was a highly disciplined batter who specialized in moving runners over and drawing walks. Traded to the Milwaukee Braves in 1960, he continued to showcase his defensive leadership, helping mentor younger infielders before finishing his stellar 16-year career with the New York Mets, where he later served as a manager.
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