1953 Topps #98 Cal Abrams
1953 Topps #98 Cal Abrams
About Cal Abrams
Calvin Ross "Abie" Abrams (1924-1997) was a speedy, left-handed-hitting outfielder from Philadelphia who signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers out of Brooklyn's James Madison High School in 1942, then served in the Army from 1943 to 1945 before returning to pro ball. He reached the majors with the Dodgers in 1949 and played eight seasons through 1956 for Brooklyn (1949-52), Cincinnati, Pittsburgh (1953-54), Baltimore, and the Chicago White Sox, batting .269 with 32 home runs and 138 RBI over 567 games, his patient eye producing a stout .386 on-base percentage. His finest year came in 1953 with Pittsburgh, the team shown on this card, when he hit .286 with a career-high 15 home runs. Abrams is best remembered for a hard-luck moment: in the pennant-deciding game on October 1, 1950, he was thrown out at the plate by Phillies center fielder Richie Ashburn while trying to score the winning run, helping cost Brooklyn the flag. A proud Jewish ballplayer, he wore uniform No. 18 for the Hebrew word "chai," meaning life. This #98 card is catalogued with a minor back-printing variation, its biography text appearing in either black or white.
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.
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 | 515 | 0 | 5 | 56 | 119 | 161 | 93 | 81 | 0 |
| SGC | 61 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Cal Abrams card?
It is card #98 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 Cal Abrams 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.