1953 Topps #101 Ted Wilks
1953 Topps #101 Ted Wilks
About Ted Wilks
A right-handed pitcher from Fulton, New York, Ted Wilks was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals out of a 1937 tryout camp and spent six seasons in the minors (Rochester, Houston, Columbus) before debuting in 1944 as a 28-year-old rookie. He arrived with a bang, going 17-4 with an 11-game winning streak to help the Cardinals win the 1944 World Series over the crosstown Browns. After elbow trouble and 1945 surgery, manager Eddie Dyer converted him to relief, and Wilks became one of the National League's premier firemen, twice leading the league in appearances and saves and helping St. Louis take the 1946 title over the Red Sox. He also pitched for the Pirates and, finally, the Cleveland Indians (1952-53), the team on this 1953 Topps card. Over ten seasons he went 59-30 with a 3.26 ERA, 46 saves, and 403 strikeouts across 385 games, 341 in relief. Catcher Joe Garagiola nicknamed him "The Cork" for all the opposing rallies he corked up. He died in 1989. This card is known with a minor printing variation, the back biography appearing in white or black 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 | 382 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 77 | 108 | 82 | 85 | 0 |
| SGC | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 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 Cleveland Indians cards
- Luke Easter
- Sam Jones
- Ray Boone
- Dale Mitchell
- Bob Kennedy
- Bob Feller
- Early Wynn
- Mike Garcia
- Jim Hegan
- Bob Hooper
- Al Rosen
- Harry Simpson
- Bill Glynn
- Jim Fridley
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Ted Wilks card?
It is card #101 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 Cleveland Indians player.
Is the 1953 Topps Ted Wilks 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.