1953 Topps

1953 · Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)

Topps' 274-card 1953 set, famous for painted portraits. Includes the Mantle #82, Mays #244, Satchel Paige RC #220.

Key Facts

Release: 1953
Manufacturer: Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
Distribution: One card plus bubble gum per nickel pack throughout the 1953 baseball season
Card stock: Cardstock with painted player portraits (the first Topps set to use paintings instead of photographs), 2⅝″ × 3¾″
Printer / Designer: Sy Berger (Topps) — paintings adapted from press photography
Series: Single 274-card issue; high-number short-prints concentrated in the #221–280 range
Total cards: 274

Jackie Robinson (#1)
Robinson holds the #1 slot — issued during the year the Dodgers reached their fourth straight World Series.
Mickey Mantle (#82)
Mantle in his second full season, coming off the Yankees' fourth straight World Series title.
Willie Mays (#244)
High-number Mays — painted while he was serving his Army stint, hence the limited representation.
Yogi Berra (#104)
Berra during his second MVP-caliber season — anchor of the Yankees dynasty.
Roy Campanella (#27)
Campy in his MVP year — he hit .312 with 41 HR in 1953.
Whitey Ford (#207)
Chairman of the Board fresh off his Korean War service — first Topps card after his return.
Warren Spahn (#147)
Spahn's final Boston Braves card — the team relocated to Milwaukee mid-season.
Bob Feller (#54)
Rapid Robert in the back half of his Hall of Fame career — Indians' veteran ace.
Pee Wee Reese (#76)
Captain of the Boys of Summer Dodgers, a year before their elusive 1955 World Series title.
Phil Rizzuto (#114)
Scooter still anchoring shortstop for the Yankees' record-setting fifth straight title team.
Early Wynn (#61)
Gus mid-stride through his Hall of Fame career, still 14 years away from his 300th win.
Satchel Paige RC (#220)
The legendary Negro Leagues ace with the St. Louis Browns — his only mainstream Topps card and one of the most iconic cards of the 1950s.