1953 Topps #116 Frank Smith
1953 Topps #116 Frank Smith
About Frank Smith
Frank Thomas Smith (April 4, 1928 – September 24, 2005), a right-handed pitcher from Pierrepont Manor, New York, reached the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 1950 and spent seven seasons in the big leagues, all with the Reds/Redlegs (1950–54, 1956) except for one year with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955. A sidearming reliever nicknamed "Fireball," he worked mostly out of the bullpen and finished his career 35–33 with a 3.81 ERA, 44 saves, and 277 strikeouts over 271 appearances. His best years came in Cincinnati: he went 12–11 across 53 games and 122⅓ innings in 1952, then posted a sparkling 8–1 mark in 1953. In 1954 he was one of the National League's premier firemen, saving 20 games — second-most in the league (though saves were not yet an official statistic) — behind a career-best 2.67 ERA. He never earned an All-Star selection but was a durable, dependable arm for the Reds. On this 1953 Topps card (#116), the back biography is known in a minor printing variation, appearing in white text on some copies and black text on others — a catalogued quirk of the series rather than a true error.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 468 | 0 | 5 | 50 | 94 | 134 | 96 | 89 | 0 |
| SGC | 48 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 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 Smith card?
It is card #116 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 Cincinnati Reds 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 Smith 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.