1953 Topps #122 Elmer Valo
1953 Topps #122 Elmer Valo
About Elmer Valo
Born Imrich Valo in 1921 in Rybnik, Czechoslovakia, Elmer Valo emigrated to Palmerton, Pennsylvania, at age six and was signed by Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics out of high school in 1939 (reportedly with no bonus money exchanged). A left-handed-hitting right fielder, he debuted at 19 in September 1940 and played 20 major-league seasons through 1961, most of them with the Athletics franchise in Philadelphia and Kansas City before later stops with the Phillies, Dodgers, Indians, Yankees, and Senators/Twins. An aggressive line-drive hitter, he batted .282 with 1,420 hits, 58 home runs, and 601 RBI, hitting .300 or better five times and peaking at .364 in 1955. He hit for the cycle on August 2, 1950, and became one of the game's best pinch-hitters, setting a big-league record with 91 career pinch-hit walks. Sportswriter Red Smith dubbed him "the Bouncing Czech" for his heritage and fearless, wall-crashing outfield play. He never reached a World Series but was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1990. This series-2 card carries a minor printing variation in which the back biography appears in either black or white text.
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 | 410 | 0 | 5 | 56 | 67 | 143 | 91 | 48 | 0 |
| SGC | 52 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 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 Elmer Valo card?
It is card #122 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 Philadelphia Athletics player.
Is the 1953 Topps Elmer Valo 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.