1953 Topps #47 Bubba Church
1953 Topps #47 Bubba Church
About Bubba Church
Emory Nicholas "Bubba" Church—nicknamed by his older brother Frank, who as a boy couldn't say "brother" and came out with "Bubba"—was a right-handed pitcher signed by Phillies manager Ben Chapman in 1947. After strong minor-league seasons in Salina and with the Toronto Maple Leafs (15-8, 2.35 in 1949), the Birmingham, Alabama native reached the majors in 1950, going 8-6 with a 2.73 ERA for the pennant-winning "Whiz Kids." On September 15, 1950, a Ted Kluszewski line drive struck him below the left eye, requiring hospitalization and surgery—an injury many believe shortened his career. He rebounded in 1951 with a career-best 15 wins, four shutouts and a one-hitter over Pittsburgh. Traded to Cincinnati in 1952 and later to the Chicago Cubs, Church finished a six-season career (1950-55) with a 36-37 record, 4.10 ERA and 274 strikeouts. This card, showing him with the Reds, is one of the set's double-printed first-series cards.
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 | 508 | 0 | 6 | 71 | 120 | 150 | 94 | 67 | 0 |
| SGC | 66 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 25 | 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 Bubba Church card?
It is card #47 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 Cincinnati Reds 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 Bubba Church 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.