1953 Topps #62 Monte Irvin
1953 Topps #62 Monte Irvin
About Monte Irvin
A five-tool outfielder out of Orange, New Jersey, Monte Irvin starred for the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League from 1938, winning three batting titles (1940, 1941, 1946) and leading Newark to the 1946 Negro World Series title, where he hit .462. Denied a raise in 1942, he won the Mexican League Triple Crown, and he lost 1943-45 to Army service in World War II, seeing action at the Battle of the Bulge. The New York Giants bought his contract in 1949, and he debuted July 8 as one of the club's first Black players. In 1951 he sparked the Giants' pennant run, batting .312 with 24 homers and a league-best 121 RBI, then hit .458 (11-for-24) in the World Series; he had popped out in the ninth just before Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." A 1952 All-Star, he won a title with the 1954 champions and mentored young Willie Mays. Over eight big-league seasons with the Giants (1949-55) and Cubs (1956) he batted .293 with 99 home runs and 443 RBI. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 1,105 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 97 | 214 | 235 | 506 | 10 |
| SGC | 467 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 25 | 70 | 324 | 22 |
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 Monte Irvin card?
It is card #62 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 New York Giants 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 Monte Irvin 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.