1953 Topps #109 Alvin Dark
1953 Topps #109 Alvin Dark
About Alvin Dark
A star college athlete at LSU, Alvin Dark (1922–2014) signed with the Boston Braves in 1946 and won the 1948 MLB Rookie of the Year Award, batting .322 as the Braves reached the World Series. Traded to the New York Giants after 1949, the right-handed shortstop was named team captain by Leo Durocher and anchored the 1951 pennant winners, hitting .303 with a league-leading 41 doubles; he singled to start the ninth-inning rally that ended with Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." A three-time All-Star (1951, 1952, 1954), Dark helped the Giants sweep the 1954 World Series, batting .412 in that Series after hitting .417 in 1951. Over 14 seasons (1946–1960) with the Braves, Giants, Cardinals, Cubs and Phillies he batted .289 with 2,089 hits, 126 home runs and 757 RBI. Nicknamed "Blackie" and later "The Swamp Fox" as a manager, he skippered the 1974 Oakland A's to a World Series title. This #109 card is found with the back biography printed in either black or white text, a minor series-2 printing variation.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
White-text biography
A minor printing variation: on some copies the back biography is printed in white text, on others in black text. Catalogued by TCDB (and noted by price guides for the series-2 range) but considered a minor variation, not a headline.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 468 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 89 | 125 | 99 | 114 | 1 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 2 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Alvin Dark card?
It is card #109 of the 1953 Topps Baseball set - one of the most beautiful sets ever made, with hand-painted color portraits numbered to 280 (274 cards issued). It pictures the New York Giants player.
Is the 1953 Topps Alvin Dark valuable?
Value depends on grade and eye appeal. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.