1953 Topps #178 Jim Waugh
1953 Topps #178 Jim Waugh
About Jim Waugh
Card #178 is the rookie card of Jim Waugh (James Elden Waugh, 1933-2010), a right-handed pitcher from Lancaster, Ohio. Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951 at age 17 as part of Branch Rickey's youth movement to rebuild the franchise, Waugh reached the majors after just one minor-league season, debuting on April 19, 1952, at 18. On August 9, 1952, he threw a complete-game 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Forbes Field, becoming the youngest pitcher in Pirates history to win a big-league game. Standing 6'3", he pitched parts of two seasons (1952-53) for the Pirates, going 5-11 with a 6.43 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 46 games (18 starts) and 142.2 innings, before arm trouble ended his rise. In one of his sharpest outings he struck out Jackie Robinson twice against Brooklyn in 1952, only to lose 3-2 on a Robinson liner off his curveball, a game covered by writer Roger Kahn. Waugh pitched in the minors through 1956 and never returned to the majors.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 500 | 0 | 7 | 66 | 107 | 144 | 95 | 80 | 1 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 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 Jim Waugh card?
It is card #178 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1953 Topps Jim Waugh 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.