1953 Topps #48 Bob Del Greco
1953 Topps #48 Bob Del Greco
About Bob Del Greco
A Pittsburgh native out of the city's Hill District, Bobby Del Greco was signed by his hometown Pirates for $500 in 1950 by scout and former Pirate Pie Traynor. A right-handed-hitting center fielder, he debuted for Pittsburgh on April 16, 1952, going 3-for-4 with a triple, and went on to play parts of nine major-league seasons for six clubs: the Pirates, Cardinals, Cubs, Yankees, Phillies and Kansas City Athletics. Del Greco was celebrated far more for his glove than his bat, batting .229 with 454 hits, 42 home runs and 169 RBI over 731 games; Branch Rickey once likened his outfield instincts to Hall of Famer Terry Moore. On May 17, 1956, the Pirates traded him (with Dick Littlefield) to St. Louis for Bill Virdon, the 1955 NL Rookie of the Year, in a swap Cardinals GM Frank Lane later called his worst deal. That September, Del Greco made two dazzling ninth-inning catches against Milwaukee that helped derail the Braves' pennant bid. Nicknamed "The Greek" for the Italian meaning of his surname, he died in 2019 at age 86. This 1953 Topps card, one of the set's double prints, captures him early in that well-traveled career.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
Double Print
Marked DP. Roughly 50% more of these cards were printed than their neighbors (the hobby calls it 'double-printed'), so they are the most plentiful cards in the set. TCDB flags 103 of them, concentrated in the low series. Five cards normally in the low run - #94, #107, #131, #145 and #156 - were also printed on the more-plentiful #166-220 sheet. A print-quantity designation, not an error or a separate card.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 530 | 0 | 7 | 74 | 114 | 142 | 106 | 87 | 0 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 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 Bob Del Greco card?
It is card #48 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player.
What does 'double print' mean for this card?
Roughly 50% more of these cards were printed than their neighbors, so double prints (DP) are the most plentiful cards in the set. It is a print-quantity note, not an error or a separate card.
Is the 1953 Topps Bob Del Greco 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.