1953 Topps #280 Milt Bolling
1953 Topps #280 Milt Bolling
About Milt Bolling
Milton Joseph Bolling (1930–2013), a right-handed shortstop from Mississippi City, Mississippi, was signed by Boston Red Sox scout George Digby as an amateur free agent in 1948 at age 17 and began his climb through the minors with the Class B Roanoke Red Sox. He debuted in the majors on September 10, 1952, walking and singling in his first at-bat against Detroit, and over seven seasons (1952–1958) he played for the Red Sox, Washington Senators (1957), and Detroit Tigers (1958), chiefly at shortstop but also at second and third base. This 1953 Topps card is his rookie card, part of the scarce high-number fourth series. Bolling won Boston's starting shortstop job but a broken elbow suffered in a March 1955 spring-training game limited him to just six games that year and cost him his everyday role. He hit .241 with 19 home runs and 94 RBI in 400 career games. His younger brother, Frank Bolling, was a longtime All-Star second baseman for the Tigers and Braves, and the two briefly formed Detroit's keystone combination in 1958; their uncle Jack Bolling also reached the majors. After his playing days, Milt scouted for the Red Sox for decades, helping sign talents such as Tony Conigliaro and George Scott.
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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 738 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 69 | 122 | 161 | 353 | 2 |
| SGC | 192 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 32 | 128 | 3 |
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 Milt Bolling card?
It is card #280 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, 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.
Is the 1953 Topps Milt Bolling 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.