1953 Topps #111 Hank Sauer
1953 Topps #111 Hank Sauer
About Hank Sauer
Signed off the Pittsburgh sandlots by a New York Yankees scout in 1937, Hank Sauer toiled roughly eight years in the minors — highlighted by a monster 1947 with Syracuse (.336, 50 HR) that earned Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year — before establishing himself in the majors. A big right-handed left fielder, he debuted with Cincinnati in September 1941 but didn't stick as a regular until 1948, then played 15 big-league seasons for the Reds, Chicago Cubs (1949-1955), Cardinals and Giants. His signature year came in 1952 at age 35, when he tied Ralph Kiner for the NL home-run lead with 37, drove in a league-best 121 runs, and was named National League MVP over Robin Roberts despite the Cubs' fifth-place finish. A two-time All-Star, Sauer also belted 41 homers in 1954 and finished with a .266 average, 288 home runs and 876 RBI. Beloved at Wrigley, he was nicknamed "The Mayor of Wrigley Field," and fans famously showered him with pouches of chewing tobacco after home runs. He is not in the Hall of Fame. This #111 card is a series-2 double print noted for a minor variation: the back biography appears in either white or 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 | 599 | 0 | 8 | 75 | 111 | 170 | 113 | 122 | 0 |
| SGC | 94 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 42 | 5 |
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 Hank Sauer card?
It is card #111 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 Chicago Cubs 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 Hank Sauer 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.