1953 Topps #137 John Rutherford
1953 Topps #137 John Rutherford
About John Rutherford
John William "Doc" Rutherford, listed on this card as Johnny Rutherford, was a right-handed pitcher born May 5, 1925, in Belleville, Ontario, though he grew up in Detroit and starred at Mackenzie High School. Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent before the 1947 season, he spent five years in the minor leagues before reaching Ebbets Field for a single big-league campaign in 1952. Working as both a spot starter and reliever for the pennant-winning Dodgers, he went 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA over 22 games (11 starts). His signature moment came on September 23, 1952, when he started and finished the pennant-clinching win over the Phillies, retiring Johnny Wyrostek, Connie Ryan, and Richie Ashburn on groundouts in the ninth to bring the National League flag back to Brooklyn. He also pitched an inning in Game 4 of the 1952 World Series against the Yankees. Shoulder trouble ended his baseball career, and Rutherford became a physician, earning his osteopathic medical degree in 1962 and practicing near Detroit until his death in 2016. This 1953 Topps #137 is a double-print and carries a minor printing variation, with the back biography appearing in either white or black text.
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.
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 | 521 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 95 | 147 | 118 | 98 | 4 |
| SGC | 70 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 29 | 5 |
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 Rutherford card?
It is card #137 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.
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 John Rutherford 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.