1953 Topps #204 Dick Bokelmann
1953 Topps #204 Dick Bokelmann
About Dick Bokelmann
Richard Werner "Dick" Bokelmann (born October 26, 1926, in Arlington Heights, Illinois; died December 27, 2019) pitched his way onto this 1953 Topps card after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals out of Northwestern University in 1947. A right-handed reliever, he broke through in 1951 with Houston of the Texas League, going 10-2 with a sparkling 0.74 ERA as the club's closer before an August call-up. He made his major-league debut on August 3, 1951, and made an immediate impression, retiring all ten batters he faced across his first three appearances (all against the New York Giants). His emergence let manager Marty Marion shift Al Brazle into the starting rotation, and Bokelmann finished his rookie year 3-3 with three saves in 20 games. His command faded over brief stints in 1952 and 1953, and he made his final appearance on May 3, 1953. He played all three of his big-league seasons with the Cardinals, compiling a 3-4 record, 4.90 ERA, three saves, and 27 strikeouts over 34 games (one start). After baseball, Bokelmann worked for Prudential Insurance in Illinois for 30 years.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 540 | 0 | 7 | 65 | 112 | 152 | 127 | 77 | 0 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 23 | 3 |
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 Dick Bokelmann card?
It is card #204 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 St. Louis Cardinals player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1953 Topps Dick Bokelmann 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.