1953 Topps #257 Bob Boyd
1953 Topps #257 Bob Boyd
About Bob Boyd
A smooth left-handed first baseman, Robert Richard Boyd (1919-2004) broke into pro ball with the Negro American League's Memphis Red Sox in the late 1940s, hitting well over .300 and barnstorming for $175 a month. In 1950 he became the first Black player to sign with the Chicago White Sox, reaching the majors in 1951 at age 31. Over nine seasons he played for the White Sox (1951, 1953-54), Baltimore Orioles (1956-60), Kansas City Athletics and Milwaukee Braves (1961), appearing in 693 big-league games as a career .298 hitter. His best year came in 1957, when his .318 average ranked fourth in the American League behind Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Gene Woodling, and he became the first modern Oriole to bat over .300 for a full season. Orioles coach Luman Harris nicknamed him "The Rope" for his hard line drives, carrying a piece of rope in his pocket to flash whenever Boyd stung another one. Boyd was later enshrined in the Negro League and National Baseball Congress halls of fame. This 1953 Topps #257 is his rookie card, a scarce fourth-series high number.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
High Number
Series 4 (#221-280). Printed in shorter supply and distributed late in the season, when retailers cut orders for the football months. The scarcest run in the set - holding #244 Willie Mays and the #258 Gilliam and #263 Podres rookies - and routinely 3-4x the price of low-number commons.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 421 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 67 | 109 | 108 | 94 | 1 |
| SGC | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 33 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Chicago White Sox cards
- Joe Dobson
- Sherm Lollar
- Orestes Minoso
- Eddie Robinson
- Tommy Byrne
- Billy Pierce
- Harry Dorish
- Jim Rivera
- Bob Keegan
- Rocky Krsnich
- Freddie Marsh
- Bob Wilson
- Vern Stephens
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Bob Boyd card?
It is card #257 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, and is his rookie card.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1953 Topps high-number series (#221-280), released late in the season in shorter supply - the scarcest run in the set, routinely 3-4 times the price of low-number commons.
Is the 1953 Topps Bob Boyd 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.