1953 Topps #164 Frank Shea
1953 Topps #164 Frank Shea
About Frank Shea
A freckle-faced right-hander from Naugatuck, Connecticut, Francis Joseph "Spec" Shea was signed by Yankees scout Paul Krichell (the man who discovered Lou Gehrig) in 1940 and climbed the New York farm system before three years in the Army Air Corps, including combat in Normandy. He debuted for the pennant-winning 1947 Yankees with a sensational rookie year, going 14-5 with a 3.07 ERA and leading the American League in winning percentage (.737) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings. That July he became the first rookie pitcher credited with a win in an All-Star Game, then won two games in the 1947 World Series over the Brooklyn Dodgers, taking Game One and Game Five. Arm and neck trouble dulled his later seasons; traded to the Washington Senators in 1952, he rebounded to 11-7 (2.93) that year and 12-7 in 1953. Nicknamed "Spec" for his freckles and dubbed the "Naugatuck Nugget" by broadcaster Mel Allen, Shea finished 56-46 with a 3.80 ERA and 361 strikeouts over eight seasons (1947-1955). This card is catalogued with a minor back variation, its biography text printed in either black or white.
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 | 469 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 83 | 129 | 127 | 96 | 0 |
| SGC | 48 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 2 |
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 Frank Shea card?
It is card #164 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 Frank Shea 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.