1953 Topps #89 Chuck Stobbs
1953 Topps #89 Chuck Stobbs
About Chuck Stobbs
Chuck Stobbs was a left-handed pitcher signed by the Boston Red Sox in May 1947 at age 17 for a reported $50,000, making him one of baseball's original "bonus babies." Over 15 major-league seasons he pitched for the Red Sox (1947-1951), Chicago White Sox (1952), and Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins (1953-1958, 1959-1961), with a brief stop in St. Louis (1958), finishing 107-130 with a 4.29 ERA and 897 strikeouts across 459 appearances. His best years came in Washington, including a 12-7 mark and a career-high 15 wins for the Senators in 1956. Stobbs is best remembered for surrendering one of the most famous home runs in history: on April 17, 1953, Mickey Mantle drove a pitch completely out of Griffith Stadium, a blast measured at an estimated 565 feet and widely regarded as the first "tape-measure" home run. After his playing days he worked in insurance, broadcast Senators games, and coached in college and pro baseball. He died in 2008. This 1953 Topps card (#89, a double print) is found with the back biography printed in either black or white text, a minor catalogued variation.
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 | 603 | 0 | 4 | 84 | 133 | 181 | 105 | 96 | 0 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 25 | 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 Chuck Stobbs card?
It is card #89 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 Washington Senators 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 Chuck Stobbs 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.