1953 Topps #55 Maurice McDermott
1953 Topps #55 Maurice McDermott
About Maurice McDermott
Maurice Joseph "Mickey" McDermott (1929-2003) was a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher whom the Boston Red Sox signed as a teenager in 1944 after his father altered his birth certificate to make the 15-year-old appear old enough; when GM Joe Cronin discovered the ruse, the club settled it with a $5,000 bonus and two truckloads of Ballantine beer. Debuting for Boston in 1948, McDermott pitched 12 major-league seasons through 1961 for the Red Sox, Senators, Yankees, Athletics, Tigers, and Cardinals, finishing 69-69 with a 3.91 ERA and 757 strikeouts. His finest year was 1953, this very card's season: an 18-10 record with a 3.01 ERA that made him Boston's ace, and a fine .301 bat (he was a career .252 hitter with 9 home runs). Nicknamed "Slats" for his lean frame, he was a nightclub singer on the side, and Warren Spahn called him one of the two greatest athletes he ever saw. He won a World Series ring as a reliever with the 1956 Yankees. This #55 is one of the set's double-printed cards. His card lists him as "Maurice McDermott," though fans knew him as Mickey.
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 | 586 | 0 | 5 | 69 | 137 | 184 | 109 | 82 | 0 |
| SGC | 83 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 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 Maurice McDermott card?
It is card #55 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 Red Sox 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 Maurice McDermott 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.