1953 Topps #247 Mike Sandlock
1953 Topps #247 Mike Sandlock
About Mike Sandlock
A switch-hitting catcher and infielder from Old Greenwich, Connecticut, Mike Sandlock signed out of a tryout with the Boston Bees and began his pro career in 1938. He reached the majors with the Boston Braves in 1942, then played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1945-1946) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1953), a true baseball journeyman whose big-league appearances bracketed his World War II service. Chiefly a catcher who also saw time at short, second, and third, he hit .240 with 107 hits, 2 home runs, and 31 RBI across 195 games; his best year came with Brooklyn in 1945, batting a career-high .282. Dodgers broadcaster Red Barber dubbed him "The Old Commuter" for traveling to games from Connecticut. Sandlock became a specialist at handling the knuckleball, catching Johnny Lindell during his 1953 Pittsburgh season, which produced this high-number Series 4 rookie card at age 37. He lived to 100, and from April 2014 until his death in April 2016 he was the oldest living former major leaguer.
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.
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 | 602 | 0 | 3 | 62 | 111 | 147 | 135 | 140 | 4 |
| SGC | 95 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 26 | 30 | 6 |
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 Mike Sandlock card?
It is card #247 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 Pittsburgh Pirates 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.
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 Mike Sandlock 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.