1953 Topps #36 Johnny Groth
1953 Topps #36 Johnny Groth
About Johnny Groth
A center fielder from Chicago, Johnny Groth (1926-2021) served in the Navy before the Detroit Tigers signed him as an amateur free agent in August 1946, luring him with a hefty bonus after he starred at Great Lakes and briefly caught Bob Feller's eye. Named International League Rookie of the Year in 1948 after hitting .340, he arrived in Detroit hyped as "the next DiMaggio." Groth never quite met that billing, but he was a fine hitter and one of the game's best defensive outfielders, patrolling center behind Virgil Trucks' 1952 no-hitter. His peak came in 1950, when he batted .306 with 12 home runs, 85 RBI, and 95 runs. He played 15 major-league seasons (1946-1960) - 11 of them with the Tigers, plus stops with the White Sox, Senators, and Kansas City Athletics; this 1953 card captures his lone season with the St. Louis Browns. He retired with a .279 average, 1,064 hits, 60 homers, and 486 RBI, then scouted for the Braves for 27 years through 1990.
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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 698 | 1 | 18 | 106 | 148 | 191 | 133 | 99 | 2 |
| SGC | 85 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 29 | 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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More St. Louis Browns cards
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- Virgil Trucks
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- Jim Dyck
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- Cliff Fannin
- Satchel Paige
- Dick Kokos
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Johnny Groth card?
It is card #36 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 St. Louis Browns 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 Johnny Groth 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.