1953 Topps #162 Ted Kluszewski
1953 Topps #162 Ted Kluszewski
About Ted Kluszewski
A powerful left-handed-hitting first baseman, Ted Kluszewski (1924-1988) starred in football and baseball at Indiana University, where the Cincinnati Reds—training there during WWII—discovered him launching prodigious drives; he signed after graduating in 1946 and reached the majors in 1947. He spent 11 seasons with Cincinnati (1947-1957) before finishing with the Pirates, White Sox, and Los Angeles Angels, retiring after 1961 with a .298 average, 1,766 hits, 279 home runs, and 1,028 RBI over 1,718 games. A four-time NL All-Star (1953-1956), "Big Klu" peaked in 1954, leading the league with 49 home runs and 141 RBI and finishing MVP runner-up. Famous for cutting the sleeves off his jersey to free his massive biceps, he later shone in the 1959 World Series for the White Sox, batting .391 with 3 homers and 10 RBI. Not a Hall of Famer, he became a respected Reds hitting coach for the 1970s "Big Red Machine." This #162 card exists with two documented printing variations—its back biography in black text 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 | 798 | 0 | 4 | 74 | 128 | 210 | 159 | 222 | 1 |
| SGC | 197 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 19 | 32 | 108 | 6 |
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 Ted Kluszewski card?
It is card #162 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 Cincinnati Reds player.
Is the 1953 Topps Ted Kluszewski 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.