1953 Topps #17 Billy Hitchcock
1953 Topps #17 Billy Hitchcock
About Billy Hitchcock
An Auburn (then Alabama Polytechnic) star who captained the baseball team and starred as an All-Southern Conference football tailback, Billy Hitchcock signed with the New York Yankees in 1938 (scout Johnny Nee) but reached the majors with the Detroit Tigers in 1942. A right-handed utility infielder who manned all four infield positions, he appeared in 703 games across nine American League seasons with Detroit, Washington, the St. Louis Browns, Boston, and the Philadelphia Athletics — the team pictured on this 1953 card, for whom he played from 1950 to 1952. His career line was .243 with 547 hits, 5 home runs, and 257 RBI; his best year came in 1951, when he batted .306 for the Athletics, the only season he cleared .300. Between his 1942 debut and 1946 return, he served in the Army Air Force in the Pacific during World War II, earning the Bronze Star and rising to the rank of major. He later managed the Tigers, Orioles, and Braves (274-261 record) and served as Southern League president from 1971 to 1980. Auburn honored him by naming its baseball field Hitchcock Field.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 489 | 1 | 8 | 55 | 103 | 143 | 90 | 81 | 8 |
| SGC | 56 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 1 |
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 Billy Hitchcock card?
It is card #17 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 Philadelphia Athletics player.
Is the 1953 Topps Billy Hitchcock 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.