1953 Topps #263 John Podres
1953 Topps #263 John Podres
High-number rookie card of Johnny Podres, the future 1955 World Series hero.
About John Podres
Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent out of Witherbee, New York, left-hander Johnny Podres tore through the minors—going 21-3 for the Hazard Bombers—and reached the majors in 1953, the year of this high-number rookie card (issued as "John Podres"). Over 15 seasons he pitched for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers (1953-1966), Detroit Tigers, and San Diego Padres, finishing 148-116 with a 3.68 ERA, 1,435 strikeouts, and 24 shutouts. A four-time All-Star who led the NL with a 2.66 ERA in 1957, Podres earned lasting fame in the 1955 World Series: he won Game 3 on his 23rd birthday, then blanked the Yankees 2-0 in Game 7 to clinch Brooklyn's only championship. That performance made him the first-ever World Series MVP, earning him the Babe Ruth Award and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year honors. He won four World Series rings in all (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965), was renowned for his change-up, and later spent more than two decades as a big-league pitching coach. He died in 2008.
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 | 907 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 83 | 164 | 194 | 414 | 7 |
| SGC | 339 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 53 | 226 | 21 |
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 Podres card?
It is card #263 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 Brooklyn Dodgers 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 John Podres 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.