1953 Topps #118 Gus Bell
1953 Topps #118 Gus Bell
About Gus Bell
A hard-hitting center fielder, David Russell "Gus" Bell signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and debuted in the majors in 1950, opening a 15-season career (1950-1964). He starred with the Pirates (1950-1952) and, most famously, the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds (1953-1961) before finishing with the New York Mets (1962) and Milwaukee Braves (1962-1964). A four-time NL All-Star (1953, 1954, 1956, 1957), Bell hit .281 with 1,823 hits, 206 home runs, and 942 RBI, and helped anchor Cincinnati's 1961 pennant winners. On June 4, 1951, he hit for the cycle against the Phillies; a half-century later grandson David Bell also hit for the cycle, making them the only grandfather-grandson pair in MLB history to do so. His nickname "Gus" dated to childhood, honoring 1930s catcher Gus Mancuso. Patriarch of a three-generation baseball family (son Buddy Bell, grandsons David and Mike), he was named an original 1962 Met and elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1964. This series-two card is a double-print and exists with the back biography printed in either black or white text, a minor catalogued variation.
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 | 586 | 0 | 6 | 64 | 127 | 181 | 104 | 104 | 0 |
| SGC | 86 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 26 | 27 | 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 Gus Bell card?
It is card #118 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 Gus Bell 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.