1953 Topps #86 Billy Martin
1953 Topps #86 Billy Martin
About Billy Martin
A scrappy right-handed second baseman from Berkeley, California, Alfred "Billy" Martin was signed out of high school in 1946 by the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, where he played for manager Casey Stengel — the mentor who would follow him to New York. Martin debuted with the Yankees in 1950 and, over 11 major-league seasons, played for the Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Tigers, Indians, Reds, Braves and Twins, batting .257 with 64 home runs and 333 RBI. Nicknamed "Billy the Kid" for his fiery, combative style, he made his lone All-Star team in 1956. Martin's signature stage was October: he won World Series titles with the Yankees in 1951, 1952 and 1953, made a famous lunging catch of Jackie Robinson's infield popup in Game 7 of the 1952 Series, and was named MVP of the 1953 World Series after collecting a record-tying 12 hits (a .500 average) with 23 total bases and a walk-off single. He later managed five teams and led the 1977 Yankees to the title before his death in a 1989 car crash. This card carries a minor printing variation — the back biography appears in either white or black text.
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 | 1,317 | 0 | 8 | 72 | 120 | 239 | 260 | 615 | 3 |
| SGC | 497 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 32 | 91 | 330 | 11 |
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 Martin card?
It is card #86 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 Yankees player.
Is the 1953 Topps Billy Martin 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.