1953 Topps #11 Sal Yvars
1953 Topps #11 Sal Yvars
About Sal Yvars
A New York City-born catcher, Salvador Anthony "Sal" Yvars (1924-2008) was signed by Giants scout Nick Shinkoff in 1942 and, after Army Air Forces service in World War II, worked up through the minors at Manchester, Jersey City and Minneapolis before debuting for the New York Giants in September 1947. A right-handed backup behind Wes Westrum, he spent parts of eight big-league seasons with the Giants (1947-1953) and St. Louis Cardinals (1953-1954), batting .244 with 102 hits, 10 home runs and 42 RBI in 210 games. Yvars is best remembered for his role in the Giants' 1951 sign-stealing operation: stationed in the bullpen, he relayed pitches to teammates by holding up a baseball for a fastball or tossing it in the air for a breaking ball, part of the scheme that fueled the pennant run capped by Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." He made the final out of the 1951 World Series in Game Six as the Yankees closed out the title. Nicknamed "Soggy Sal" by hostile minor-league fans in Buffalo, Yvars later spent roughly 50 years as an investment advisor. His card is a standard black-banner Series 1 issue.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 370 | 0 | 4 | 51 | 60 | 118 | 71 | 66 | 0 |
| SGC | 54 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More New York Giants cards
- Hank Thompson
- Jim Hearn
- Monte Irvin
- Alvin Dark
- George Spencer
- Davey Williams
- Bill Connelly
- Hoyt Wilhelm
- Bobby Hofman
- Willie Mays
- Sam Calderone
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Sal Yvars card?
It is card #11 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.
Is the 1953 Topps Sal Yvars 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.