1953 Topps

Card #193 - Mike Clark	Card #35 - Irv Noren

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After stealing much of Bowman's thunder the previous year, in 1953 Topps issued a set that reflects how intense the competition was between the two companies. The most obvious example of this is the fact that there are six "missing" cards in the 1953 Topps set. The set's final card is #280; however, card numbers 253, 261, 267, 268, 271 and 275 were never issued. These cards were most assuredly pulled because the original players featured signed exclusive contracts with Bowman. As a result of this competition, players such as Stan Musial and Duke Snider, who were in Bowman's 1953 set, do not show up here.

While Bowman issued a set of all-color cards, Topps went with hand-painted player portraits, similar to the style of artwork Bowman had used from 1950 through 1952. They were a departure from the artificially colored photos they had used in 1952 (Topps would wait until 1957 before regularly issuing cards with full-color photos). One item that was kept from Topps' 1952 design was a color team logo, which appears on the bottom panel. The panels are colored red for American League players, or black for National Leaguers. The bright red and black edges seem to be easily damaged, and also show the most wear to the card.

The card backs are innovative as they contain the fist use of trivia questions, a device Topps would use again in many later years. Also on the backs are the usual biographical and statistical information as well as a write-up of the player. The player's facsimile autograph has moved to the card back and can be seen behind the write-up. On some cards, the red panel at the top of the back (where the player's personal data is contained) can be found with data printed in either black or white, the black variety being scarcer. The scarce high series contains cards #221-280, with several tough-to-find short printed cards within that series.

One problem with 1953 Topps cards is the fact that the black and red boxes "bleed" into the edge of the card, which has led unscrupulous collectors to use a black magic marker to "repair" damage to some cards. While there are no Hall of Fame-caliber rookies, the set's best-known cards feature two of that era's legends: Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Mays appeared in the high-number series and was an interesting addition to the set because he was in the Army for the entire season (and didn't have a Bowman card for that reason). Card #1 features Jackie Robinson and is hard to find in top condition. Card #219 is supposed to show Pete Runnels of the Senators, but instead shows teammate Don Johnson.

A variation exists in this set as well. On the backs of 85 cards, the personal data on the backs can be found in either black or white ink. The cards are numbers 10, 44, 61, 72, 81 and 85-165. Price guides don't give different prices for either variation, but the ones with black text appear to be harder to find.

Card #61 - Early Wynn (Back)

1953 Topps Wax Pack	1953 Topps Display Box

1. Jackie Robinson
2. Luke Easter
3. George Crowe
4. Ben Wade
5. Joe Dobson
6. Sam Jones
7. Bob Borkowski
8. Clem Koshorek
9. Joe Collins
10. Smoky Burgess
11. Sal Yvars
12. Howie Judson
13. Connie Marrero
14. Clem Labine
15. Bobo Newsom
16. Harry Lowrey
17. Billy Hitchcock
18. Ted Lepcio
19. Mel Parnell
20. Hank Thompson
21. Billy Johnson
22. Howie Fox
23. Toby Atwell
24. Ferris Fain
25. Ray Boone
26. Dale Mitchell
27. Roy Campanella
28. Harry Pellagrini
29. Hal Jeffcoat
30. Willard Nixon
31. Ewell Blackwell
32. Clyde Vollmer
33. Bob Kennedy
34. George Shuba
35. Irv Noren
36. Johnny Groth
37. Ed Mathews
38. Ed Hearn
39. Eddie Miksis
40. Johnny Lipon
41. Enos Slaughter
42. Gus Zernial
43. Gil McDougald
44. Ellis Kinder
45. Grady Hatton
46. Johnny Klippstein
47. Bubba Church
48. Bob Del Greco
49. Faye Throneberry
50. Chuck Dressen
51. Frank Campos
52. Ted Gray
53. Sherman Lollar
54. Bob Feller
55. Maurice McDermott
56. Gerald Staley
57. Carl Scheib
58. George Metkovich
59. Carl Drews
60. Cloyd Boyer
61. Early Wynn
62. Monte Irvin
63. Gus Niarhos
64. Dave Philley
65. Earl Harris
66. Orestes Minoso
67. Roy Sievers
68. Del Rice
69. Dick Brodowski
70. Ed Yuhas
71. Tony Bartirome
72. Fred Hutchinson
73. Eddie Robinson
74. Joe Rossi
75. Mike Garcia
76. Pee Wee Reese 
77. John Mize
78. Al Schoendienst
79. Johnny Wyrostek
80. Jim Hegan
81. Joe Black
82. Mickey Mantle
83. Howie Pollett
84. Bob Hooper
85. Bobby Morgan
86. Billy Martin
87. Ed Lopat
88. Willie Jones
89. Chuck Stobbs
90. Hank Edwards
91. Ebba St. Claire
92. Paul Minner
93. Hal Rice
94. William Kennedy
95. Willard Marshall
96. Virgil Trucks
97. Don Kolloway
98. Cal Abrams
99. Dave Madison
100. Bill Miller
101. Ted Wilks
102. Connie Ryan
103. Joe Astroth
104. Yogi Berra
105. Joe Nuxhall
106. Johnny Antonelli
107. Danny O'Connell
108. Bob Porterfield
109. Alvin Dark
110. Herman Wehmeier
111. Hank Sauer
112. Ned Garver
113. Jerry Priddy
114. Phil Rizzuto
115. George Spencer
116. Frank Smith
117. Sid Gordon
118. Gus Bell
119. John Sain
120. Davey Williams
121. Walt Dropo
122. Elmer Valo
123. Tommy Byrne
124. Sibbi Sisti
125. Dick Williams
126. Bill Connelly
127. Clint Courtney
128. Wilmer Mizell
129. Keith Thomas
130. Turk Lown
131. Harry Byrd
132. Tom Morgan
133. Gil Coan
134. Rube Walker
135. Al Rosen
136. Ken Heintzelman
137. John Rutherford
138. George Kell
139. Sammy White
140. Tom Glaviano
141. Allie Reynolds
142. Vic Wertz
143. Billy Pierce
144. Bob Schultz
145. Harry Dorish
146. Granville Hamner
147. Warren Spahn
148. Mickey Grasso
149. Dom DiMaggio
150. Harry Simpson
151. Hoyt Wilhelm
152. Bob Adams
153. Andy Seminick
154. Dick Groat
155. Dutch Leonard
156. Jim Rivera
157. Bob Addis
158. John Logan
159. Wayne Terwilliger
160. Bob Young
161. Vern Bickford
162. Ted Kluszewski
163. Fred Hatfield
164. Frank Shea
165. Billy Hoeft
166. Bill Hunter
167. Art Schult
168. Willard Schmidt
169. Dizzy Trout
170. Bill Werle
171. Bill Glynn
172. Rip Repulski
173. Preston Ward
174. Billy Loes
175. Ron Kline
176. Don Hoak
177. Jim Dyck
178. Jim Waugh
179. Gene Hermanski
180. Virgil Stallcup
181. Al Zarilla
182. Bob Hofman
183. Stu Miller
184. Hal Brown
185. Jim Pendleto
186. Charlie Bishop
187. Jim Fridley
188. Andy Carey
189. Ray Jablonski
190. Dixie Walker
191. Ralph Kiner
192. Wally Westlake
193. Mike Clark
194. Eddie Kazak
195. Ed McGhee
196. Bob Keegan
197. Del Crandall
198. Forrest Main
199. Marion Fricano
200. Gordon Goldsberry
201. Carl LaPalme 
202. Carl Sawatski
203. Cliff Fannin
204. Dick Bokelmann
205. Vern Benson 
206. Ed Bailey
207. Whitey Ford
208. Jim Wilson
209. Jim Greengrass
210. Bob Cerv
211. J.W. Porter
212. Jack Dittmer
213. Ray Scarborough
214. Bll Bruton
215. Gene Conley
216. Jim Hughes
217. Murray Wall
218. Les Fusselman
219. Pete Runnels
220. Satchel Paige
221. Bob Milliken
222. Vic Janowicz
223. John O'Brien
224. Lou Sleater
225. Bobby Shantz
226. Ed Erautt
227. Morris Martin
228. Hal Newhouser
229. Rocky Krsnich
230. Johnny Lindel
231. Solly Hemus
232. Dick Kokos
233. Al Aber
234. Ray Murray
235. John Hetkl
236. Harry Perkowski
237. Clarence Podbielan
238. Cal Hogue
239. Jim Delsing
240. Freddie Marsh
241. Al Sima
242. Charlie Sivera
243. Carlos Bernier
244. Willie Mays
245. Bill Norman
246. Roy Face
247. Mike Sandlock
248. Gene Stephens
249. Ed O'Brien
250. Johnny Wilson
251. Sid Hudson
252. Henry Foiles
(253.) Not Issued
254. Preacher Roe
255. Dixie Howell
256. Les Peden
257. Bobby Boyd
258. Jim Gilliam
259. Roy McMillan
260. Sam Calderone
(261.) Not Issued
262. Bob Odis
263. John Podres
264. Gene Woodling
265. Jackie Jensen
266. Bob Cain
(267.) Not Issued
(268.) Not Issued
269. Duane Pillette
270. Vern Stephens
(271.) Not Issued
272. Bill Antonello
273. Harvey Haddix
274. John Riddle
(275.) Not Issued
276. Ken Raffensberger
277. Don Lund
278. Willie Miranda
279. Joe Coleman
280. Milt Bolling