1953 Topps #165 Billy Hoeft
1953 Topps #165 Billy Hoeft
About Billy Hoeft
A hard-throwing left-hander, Billy Hoeft was signed by the Detroit Tigers out of high school in his native Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1950 - just months after he struck out all 27 batters in a legendary schoolboy perfect game. He reached the majors in 1952 and pitched 15 seasons through 1966, seven of them in Detroit, with later stops in Boston, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Chicago (Cubs) and San Francisco. On September 7, 1953, Hoeft became the eighth pitcher in major-league history to throw an "immaculate inning," striking out the side on nine pitches against the White Sox. His finest stretch came in the mid-1950s: he made the 1955 American League All-Star team (his only selection) while going 16-7 with a 2.99 ERA and a majors-leading seven shutouts, then won 20 games in 1956 with a career-high 172 strikeouts. Over 505 games he finished 97-101 with a 3.94 ERA and 1,140 strikeouts. This series-2 card is catalogued with a minor printing variation - the back biography appears in white text on some copies and black on others. Hoeft died in 2010 at age 77.
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 | 385 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 75 | 102 | 84 | 87 | 0 |
| SGC | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 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 Hoeft card?
It is card #165 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 Detroit Tigers player.
Is the 1953 Topps Billy Hoeft 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.