1953 Topps #163 Fred Hatfield
1953 Topps #163 Fred Hatfield
About Fred Hatfield
Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur in 1942, Fred "Scrap Iron" Hatfield interrupted his career to serve as an Army paratrooper in World War II, then climbed through five minor-league seasons before debuting with Boston in 1950. A left-handed-hitting infielder (mainly third base, with time at second and short), he played nine major-league seasons for the Red Sox (1950-52), Detroit Tigers (1952-56), Chicago White Sox (1956-57), Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Redlegs (1958). Traded to Detroit in a nine-player deal in 1952, he became known as the American League's slickest-fielding third baseman, leading the circuit in fielding average and assists. His bat lagged his glove: he hit .242 with 23 home runs, 165 RBI and 493 hits over 722 games, and famously complained that manager Steve O'Neill "took my home run stroke away." The nickname "Scrap Iron" grew from his knack for leading leagues in being hit by pitches. After playing he managed 16 years in the minors, coached third base for the 1977-78 Tigers, and led Florida State (1964-68, 161-57), earning posthumous induction into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1999. His #163 card is a double-print noted for a minor back-biography printing variation (white vs. black text).
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 | 478 | 0 | 5 | 46 | 99 | 141 | 88 | 99 | 0 |
| SGC | 68 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 33 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Detroit Tigers cards
- Ted Gray
- Fred Hutchinson
- Dave Madison
- Ned Garver
- Jerry Priddy
- Walt Dropo
- Billy Hoeft
- Eddie Kazak
- J.W. Porter
- Hal Newhouser
- Jim Delsing
- Don Lund
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Fred Hatfield card?
It is card #163 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 Detroit Tigers 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 Fred Hatfield 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.