1953 Topps #175 Ron Kline
1953 Topps #175 Ron Kline
About Ron Kline
A hard-throwing right-hander from Callery, Pennsylvania, Ron Kline was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of a 1950 tryout camp at Forbes Field by Hall of Famer Pie Traynor. After a standout 18-4, 208-strikeout minor-league season in 1951 and a two-year Army stint during the Korean War, he settled in for a durable 17-season big-league career (1952, 1955-1970), pitching for nine clubs but most for the Pirates and Washington Senators. Kline went 114-144 with a 3.75 ERA and 989 strikeouts across 736 games, working increasingly out of the bullpen. He absorbed 20 losses in 1956 to lead the National League, but reinvented himself as a closer: in 1965 his 29 saves led the American League, and his finest year came in 1968 back with Pittsburgh, when he posted a career-best 1.68 ERA in 112-plus innings. He earned a reputation for an alleged spitter he neither confirmed nor denied. This #175 is Kline's rookie card. After baseball he returned home and served as mayor of Callery, where he died in 2002.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 473 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 105 | 139 | 101 | 80 | 0 |
| SGC | 61 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 1 |
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 Ron Kline card?
It is card #175 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.
Is the 1953 Topps Ron Kline 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.