1953 Topps #236 Harry Perkowski
1953 Topps #236 Harry Perkowski
About Harry Perkowski
A left-handed pitcher out of Dante, Virginia, Harry Perkowski (1922-2016) began in semi-pro ball in the local coal fields and pitched briefly for the Natchez Giants before being drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1943. After his 1946 discharge he signed with Cincinnati and dominated the Pioneer League for Ogden, going 23-6 with a 2.09 ERA and 209 strikeouts. He reached the majors with the Reds/Redlegs in 1947 and pitched parts of eight big-league seasons (1947, 1949-54 Cincinnati; 1955 Chicago Cubs), compiling a 33-40 record with a 4.37 ERA and 296 strikeouts over 184 appearances. His best year was 1952, when he went 12-10 with career highs of 194 innings, 86 strikeouts and a 3.80 ERA; that season he threw a 12-inning, three-hit, 1-0 shutout of the New York Giants at Crosley Field, decided by a Hobie Landrith walk-off home run. Cincinnati traded him to the Cubs after the 1954 season, and he retired in 1955.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Designations, variations & errors
High Number
Series 4 (#221-280). Printed in shorter supply and distributed late in the season, when retailers cut orders for the football months. The scarcest run in the set - holding #244 Willie Mays and the #258 Gilliam and #263 Podres rookies - and routinely 3-4x the price of low-number commons.
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 | 483 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 78 | 131 | 125 | 111 | 1 |
| SGC | 60 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 18 | 24 | 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 Harry Perkowski card?
It is card #236 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.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1953 Topps high-number series (#221-280), released late in the season in shorter supply - the scarcest run in the set, routinely 3-4 times the price of low-number commons.
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 Harry Perkowski 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.