1953 Topps #74 Joe Rossi
1953 Topps #74 Joe Rossi
About Joe Rossi
Joseph Anthony Rossi (March 13, 1921 – February 20, 1999) was a right-handed catcher from Oakland, California, whose 1953 Topps card (#74) pictures him with the Pittsburgh Pirates even though he never played a game for them. Rossi was a career minor-leaguer, toiling for 14 seasons between 1941 and 1956, and reached the majors for a single year: 1952 with the Cincinnati Reds. Serving as the backup to starter Andy Seminick, he appeared in 55 games and batted .221 (32-for-145) with one home run, one triple, six RBI, and one stolen base — the sum total of his big-league record. After that lone season, Cincinnati traded him to Pittsburgh (with Cal Abrams and Gail Henley for Gus Bell) in October 1952, which is why he appears as a Pirate here; he was back in the minors for good in 1953. In his final year, 1956, he managed the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League. Rossi is a classic "one-and-done" card of the set, prized more for that Reds-to-Pirates back story than for his brief stat line.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 485 | 0 | 11 | 86 | 98 | 148 | 85 | 56 | 1 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 0 |
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 Joe Rossi card?
It is card #74 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.
Is the 1953 Topps Joe Rossi 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.