1953 Topps #249 Eddie O'Brien
1953 Topps #249 Eddie O'Brien
About Eddie O'Brien
A two-sport star at Seattle University, Eddie O'Brien and his twin brother Johnny signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 19, 1953 for hefty bonuses, recruited by Branch Rickey with help from minority owner Bing Crosby. The 5-foot-9 twins had first drawn national fame in basketball, upsetting the Harlem Globetrotters 84-81 on January 21, 1952. A right-handed shortstop (who also played second base, the outfield, and even pitched in relief), Eddie spent his entire five-year big-league career with the Pirates (1953, 1955-1958). Beginning June 7, 1953, Eddie and Johnny became the first twins in major-league history to appear together in a starting lineup and turn double plays for the same team. He was a light hitter, batting .236 with no home runs, but a slick fielder. After his playing days he served as Seattle University's athletic director for over two decades and coached its baseball team to a 276-135 record, and in 1969 was the Seattle Pilots' bullpen coach, appearing as "Mr. Small Stuff" in Jim Bouton's Ball Four. This is O'Brien's rookie card, one of the scarce high numbers in the 1953 set. He died in 2014 at age 83.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
High Number
Series 4 (#221-280). Printed in shorter supply and distributed late in the season, when retailers cut orders for the football months. The scarcest run in the set - holding #244 Willie Mays and the #258 Gilliam and #263 Podres rookies - and routinely 3-4x the price of low-number commons.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 569 | 1 | 6 | 49 | 102 | 162 | 117 | 132 | 0 |
| SGC | 83 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 28 | 6 |
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 Eddie O'Brien card?
It is card #249 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, and is his rookie card.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1953 Topps high-number series (#221-280), released late in the season in shorter supply - the scarcest run in the set, routinely 3-4 times the price of low-number commons.
Is the 1953 Topps Eddie O'Brien 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.