1953 Topps #3 George Crowe
1953 Topps #3 George Crowe
About George Crowe
George Daniel Crowe (1921-2011) was a left-handed first baseman from Whiteland, Indiana, who arrived in the majors as an unusually well-traveled 31-year-old rookie. A gifted all-around athlete, he was named the first-ever Indiana "Mr. Basketball" in 1939, played college ball at Indiana Central College, and served in the Army during World War II before starring for the New York Black Yankees of the Negro National League. The Boston Braves signed him after a 1949 tryout, and he tore through the minors before debuting on April 16, 1952. Over nine big-league seasons with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1952-53, 1955), Cincinnati Redlegs (1956-58) and St. Louis Cardinals (1959-61), Crowe hit .270 with 81 home runs and 299 RBI in 702 games. His best year came in 1957, when he clubbed 31 homers filling in for the injured Ted Kluszewski; he was named a National League All-Star in 1958 and held the major-league record for career pinch-hit home runs. Nicknamed "Big Daddy" for the fatherly mentorship he gave younger Black players, Crowe later withdrew to a Catskills cabin and was elected to Indiana's basketball and baseball halls of fame. This is his first Topps card, a Series 1 issue in the 1953 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 400 | 0 | 8 | 38 | 62 | 118 | 83 | 90 | 1 |
| SGC | 52 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 23 | 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 George Crowe card?
It is card #3 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 Boston Braves player.
Is the 1953 Topps George Crowe 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.