1953 Topps #166 Billy Hunter
1953 Topps #166 Billy Hunter
About Billy Hunter
A slick-fielding shortstop, Gordon William "Billy" Hunter was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948 after turning down a Penn State scholarship, and spent five seasons in the minors before the St. Louis Browns purchased him as their highest-priced rookie ever. He debuted on April 14, 1953, as the Browns' Opening Day shortstop, and this card captures that rookie year. Remarkably, Hunter made the 1953 AL All-Star team as a rookie (pinch-running for Mickey Mantle), preserved Bobo Holloman's May 6 no-hitter with a diving catch, and hit the final home run in St. Louis Browns history on September 26, 1953. He played six MLB seasons (1953-1958) with the Browns, Orioles, Yankees, Athletics, and Indians, batting .219 with 16 home runs and 144 RBI, and sat on the bench for the 1956 World Series champion Yankees. Hunter later coached third base for Baltimore's 1966 and 1970 World Series winners and managed the Texas Rangers (1977-1978). Inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1996, he was the last surviving St. Louis Brown when he died in 2025 at age 97.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 576 | 1 | 6 | 67 | 120 | 169 | 115 | 97 | 1 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 19 | 20 | 0 |
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 Hunter card?
It is card #166 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 St. Louis Browns player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1953 Topps Billy Hunter 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.