1953 Topps #146 Granny Hamner
1953 Topps #146 Granny Hamner
About Granny Hamner
Granville Wilbur "Granny" Hamner signed with the Phillies as a 17-year-old in 1944 and debuted that September, and in 1945 he became the youngest player ever to start an Opening Day game—a record that still stands. A right-handed shortstop and second baseman, he spent most of his 17-year career (1944–1959) in Philadelphia, closing out with the Cleveland Indians (1959) and Kansas City Athletics (1962). Named team captain, Hamner was a fixture of the 1950 "Whiz Kids," the National League pennant winners, and batted .429 (6-for-14) with three extra-base hits in that year's World Series against the Yankees. He earned three straight All-Star selections (1952–1954) and started the 1952 All-Star Game at shortstop on his home field, Shibe Park. He hit .262 with 1,529 hits, 104 home runs, and 708 RBI, and remarkably returned in 1962 as a knuckleball pitcher. Hamner disliked the "Granny" nickname; in 1969 fans honored him as the Phillies' all-time greatest shortstop. This card is found with the back biography printed in either black or white text—a minor catalogued printing variation, not an error.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
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 | 428 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 91 | 124 | 98 | 73 | 4 |
| SGC | 47 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 3 |
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 Granny Hamner card?
It is card #146 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 Philadelphia Phillies player.
Is the 1953 Topps Granny Hamner 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.