1953 Topps #106 John Antonelli
1953 Topps #106 John Antonelli
About John Antonelli
A hard-throwing left-hander from Rochester, New York, Johnny Antonelli became one of baseball's original "bonus babies" when the Boston Braves signed him on June 29, 1948, for a then-record $52,000; under the era's rules the money kept him on the big-league roster with no minor-league seasoning, and he debuted at 18. He pitched for the Braves (1948-50 and 1953, this card issued after his return from military service) before a February 1954 trade sent him to the New York Giants for hero Bobby Thomson. That deal proved a steal: in 1954 Antonelli went 21-7 and led the NL with a 2.30 ERA, won The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award, finished third in MVP voting, then beat Cleveland's Early Wynn in Game 2 and saved Game 4 as the Giants swept the World Series. A multiple-time All-Star and two-time 20-game winner (1954, 1956), he finished his 12-year career (Giants, Indians, Braves) at 126-110 with a 3.34 ERA and 1,162 strikeouts. He died in 2020 at age 89.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
White-text biography
A minor printing variation: on some copies the back biography is printed in white text, on others in black text. Catalogued by TCDB (and noted by price guides for the series-2 range) but considered a minor variation, not a headline.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 416 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 80 | 97 | 97 | 82 | 5 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 26 | 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 John Antonelli card?
It is card #106 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 Boston Braves player.
Is the 1953 Topps John Antonelli 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.