1953 Topps #12 Howie Judson
1953 Topps #12 Howie Judson
About Howie Judson
A two-sport star at the University of Illinois, right-hander Howie Judson signed with the Chicago White Sox in July 1946 and reached the majors in 1948. He pitched seven big-league seasons, five with the White Sox (1948-1952) and two with the Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1954), the club shown on this 1953 Topps card. Judson is best remembered for hard luck: he went just 1-14 in 1949 and dropped 15 consecutive decisions before finally snapping the skid with a relief win over the St. Louis Browns in late May 1950. Chicago sportswriter Edward Burns dubbed him "the fast ripening green pea." Remarkably, he pitched effectively despite severe vision loss in his left eye from a boyhood injury. Judson finished 17-37 with a 4.29 ERA and 204 strikeouts over 207 games and 615 innings. He died in 2020 at age 95.
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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 522 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 114 | 151 | 106 | 75 | 2 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 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 Howie Judson card?
It is card #12 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 Howie Judson 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.