1953 Topps #114 Phil Rizzuto
1953 Topps #114 Phil Rizzuto
About Phil Rizzuto
Signed by the Yankees in 1937 after scout Paul Krichell spotted him at a tryout (a Giants coach had famously told the diminutive infielder to "go shine shoes"), Phil Rizzuto starred in the minors—earning American Association MVP honors at Kansas City in 1940—before debuting as the Yankees' shortstop in 1941. He spent his entire 13-season career in New York (1941-1956, missing 1943-45 for Navy service in WWII), a slick-fielding, small-ball specialist and superb bunter. Rizzuto was a five-time All-Star (1942, 1950-53) and won the 1950 AL MVP, hitting .324 with 200 hits. He anchored a dynasty that captured seven World Series titles (1941, 1947, 1949-53) and holds numerous Series records for shortstops. A career .273 hitter with 1,588 hits, 38 home runs, 563 RBI and 149 steals, he was nicknamed "the Scooter" by minor-league teammate Billy Hitchcock for the way he ran the bases, and is remembered for a perfect squeeze bunt on September 17, 1951, that scored Joe DiMaggio in a tense pennant-race win. After his playing days he became the beloved Yankees broadcaster of "Holy Cow!" fame. Rizzuto was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994. This series-2 card is noted for a minor printing variation, with the back biography appearing in either black or white text.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
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 | 1,511 | 0 | 6 | 75 | 136 | 258 | 294 | 733 | 9 |
| SGC | 595 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 32 | 33 | 85 | 418 | 21 |
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 Phil Rizzuto card?
It is card #114 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 Yankees player.
Is the 1953 Topps Phil Rizzuto 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.