1953 Topps #273 Harvey Haddix
1953 Topps #273 Harvey Haddix
About Harvey Haddix
A slight, crafty left-hander out of Medway, Ohio, Harvey Haddix reached the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952 and pitched 14 seasons (1952-1965) for the Cardinals, Phillies, Redlegs, Pirates and Orioles. This 1953 Topps card (#273), a Series 4 high number, captures him as a rookie sensation: he broke out that very year with a 20-9 record, 3.06 ERA, 163 strikeouts and six shutouts, the first of three straight All-Star selections (1953-1955). A superb fielder, he later won three Gold Gloves (1958-1960). He is immortalized for May 26, 1959, when, as a Pirate, he retired 36 consecutive Milwaukee Braves over 12 perfect innings before losing 1-0 in the 13th, often called the greatest pitched game ever. He won a World Series ring with the 1960 Pirates, going 2-0 in the Series. Nicknamed "The Kitten" at Triple-A Columbus for resembling Cardinals star Harry "The Cat" Brecheen, Haddix finished 136-113 with a 3.63 ERA and 1,575 strikeouts. He died in 1994.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 686 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 85 | 154 | 124 | 282 | 1 |
| SGC | 177 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 16 | 34 | 101 | 9 |
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 Harvey Haddix card?
It is card #273 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, and is his rookie card.
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.
Is the 1953 Topps Harvey Haddix 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.