1953 Topps #143 Billy Pierce
1953 Topps #143 Billy Pierce
About Billy Pierce
A slightly built left-hander signed by his hometown Detroit Tigers out of high school for a $15,000 bonus, Billy Pierce (1927-2015) reached the majors at 17 in 1945 and earned a World Series ring that fall without pitching. Traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1949, he became the franchise ace through 1961 before finishing with the San Francisco Giants (1962-1964). A seven-time All-Star, Pierce led the American League in strikeouts in 1953 (186), ERA in 1955 (a stingy 1.97), and wins in 1957 (20), and topped the AL in complete games three straight years (1956-1958). On June 27, 1958, he retired 26 straight Washington Senators before Ed Fitz Gerald doubled with two outs in the ninth, missing a perfect game by a single batter. Nicknamed "Mr. Zero" for the shutouts he piled up as a youngster, he starred for Chicago's 1959 pennant winners and won two games for the 1962 NL-champion Giants. He finished 211-169 with a 3.27 ERA and 1,999 strikeouts; the White Sox retired his No. 19 in 1987 and unveiled a statue in his honor in 2007. This 1953 Topps card (#143) is catalogued with a minor back variation, its biography printed in either black or white 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 | 504 | 1 | 8 | 40 | 75 | 156 | 114 | 110 | 0 |
| SGC | 68 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 27 | 3 |
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 Pierce card?
It is card #143 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 Chicago White Sox player.
Is the 1953 Topps Billy Pierce 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.