1953 Topps #154 Dick Groat
1953 Topps #154 Dick Groat
About Dick Groat
A rare two-sport star, Dick Groat starred at Duke University as a two-time basketball All-American (1951, 1952) before Pirates GM Branch Rickey signed him in June 1952; he went straight to Pittsburgh with no minor-league time, debuting on June 19, 1952. After two years of Army service (1953-54), the right-handed shortstop returned to anchor the Pirates and played through 1967 with Pittsburgh (1952, 1955-62), St. Louis (1963-65), Philadelphia (1966-67) and San Francisco (1967). An eight-time All-Star, Groat won the 1960 NL batting title (.325) and was named the 1960 National League MVP, leading the Pirates to a World Series championship over the Yankees; he added a second title with the 1964 Cardinals. For seven seasons (1956-62) he and Bill Mazeroski formed one of the game's finest keystone combinations. Groat retired with a .286 average, 2,138 hits, 39 home runs and 707 RBI over 1,929 games. He also played one NBA season (1952-53) for the Fort Wayne Pistons, one of a handful of athletes to reach both the majors and the NBA. This card sits in the 1953 Topps set's series 2; some copies show the back biography printed in white text rather than black, a minor catalogued printing variation. Groat died in 2023 at age 92.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
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 | 604 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 79 | 143 | 132 | 222 | 0 |
| SGC | 116 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 20 | 72 | 4 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Pittsburgh Pirates cards
- Clem Koshorek
- Bob Del Greco
- George Metkovich
- Tony Bartirome
- Joe Rossi
- Howie Pollet
- Cal Abrams
- Danny O'Connell
- Ron Kline
- Jim Waugh
- Ralph Kiner
- Forrest Main
- Paul LaPalme
- Vic Janowicz
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Dick Groat card?
It is card #154 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.
Is the 1953 Topps Dick Groat 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.