1953 Topps #136 Ken Heintzelman
1953 Topps #136 Ken Heintzelman
About Ken Heintzelman
Kenneth Alphonse "Cannonball" Heintzelman, a left-handed pitcher out of Peruque, Missouri, signed with the Boston Braves in 1935 but was soon acquired by Pittsburgh, earning the nickname for his fastball velocity in the low minors. He debuted for the Pirates in 1937 and spent 13 big-league seasons split between Pittsburgh (1937-42, 1946-47) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1947-52), losing 1943-45 to U.S. Army service in the 65th Infantry Division in Europe. His finest year came in 1949, when he went 17-10 with a 3.02 ERA and led the National League with five shutouts, finishing ninth in MVP voting after Phillies fans voted him team MVP. In 1950 he started Game 3 of the World Series for the pennant-winning "Whiz Kids," carrying a 2-1 lead into the eighth at Yankee Stadium before walking the bases loaded and being relieved; the Yankees rallied to win and swept the Series. He finished 77-98 with a 3.93 ERA and 564 strikeouts. His son Tom Heintzelman later reached the majors as an infielder. This series-2 card (#136) is a documented double-print and exists with the back biography printed in either black or white text, a minor catalogued printing variation.
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 | 456 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 110 | 136 | 95 | 66 | 0 |
| SGC | 60 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 22 | 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 Ken Heintzelman card?
It is card #136 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 Philadelphia Phillies 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 Ken Heintzelman 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.