1953 Topps #56 Gerald Staley
1953 Topps #56 Gerald Staley
About Gerald Staley
Gerald Lee "Gerry" Staley, whose 1953 Topps card (#56) lists him by his formal first name, was a right-handed sinkerball specialist from Brush Prairie, Washington. He signed with the Class-C Boise Pilots in 1941 after working at an Alcoa aluminum plant in Vancouver, then was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and debuted on April 20, 1947. Staley became a workhorse starter in St. Louis, peaking from 1951-1953 with records of 19-13, 17-14, and a career-best 18-9, earning National League All-Star selections in 1952 and 1953. His sinker was so central that the Cardinals reportedly wet the dirt in front of home plate on his starts. Traded away in 1954, he reinvented himself with the Chicago White Sox, where manager Al Lopez turned him into a full-time reliever in 1957. He was pivotal to Chicago's 1959 pennant (8-5, 2.24 ERA, 14 saves) and pitched in that year's World Series. Over 15 seasons and six teams he went 134-111 with a 3.70 ERA, 727 strikeouts, and 61 saves. An All-Star in both leagues, Staley was inducted into the Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 (not Cooperstown) and died in 2008.
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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 507 | 0 | 6 | 67 | 97 | 154 | 96 | 83 | 4 |
| SGC | 62 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 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 Gerald Staley card?
It is card #56 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 St. Louis Cardinals 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 Gerald Staley 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.