1953 Topps #23 Toby Atwell
1953 Topps #23 Toby Atwell
About Toby Atwell
Maurice Dailey "Toby" Atwell was a left-handed-hitting, right-handed-throwing catcher who signed into the Brooklyn Dodgers' organization in 1946 and spent years grinding through the minors — including stops at Fort Worth, Montreal, and St. Paul — before a 1949 knee injury sliding for the Triple-A Montreal Royals slowed his climb. He finally reached the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1952 and enjoyed his finest season as a rookie, batting a career-high .290 with 107 games and 31 RBI and earning selection to the National League All-Star team. On June 4, 1953, Atwell was one of six players the Cubs shipped to Pittsburgh in the blockbuster ten-player trade that brought slugger Ralph Kiner to Chicago. He spent the rest of his career with the Pirates (1953–1956) and finished with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956, retiring with a .260 average, 290 hits, 9 home runs, and 110 RBI over 378 major-league games. Born in Leesburg, Virginia, and a World War II military veteran, he died in 2003.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
Double Print
Marked DP. Roughly 50% more of these cards were printed than their neighbors (the hobby calls it 'double-printed'), so they are the most plentiful cards in the set. TCDB flags 103 of them, concentrated in the low series. Five cards normally in the low run - #94, #107, #131, #145 and #156 - were also printed on the more-plentiful #166-220 sheet. A print-quantity designation, not an error or a separate card.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 585 | 2 | 8 | 94 | 142 | 148 | 105 | 86 | 0 |
| SGC | 65 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Toby Atwell card?
It is card #23 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 Chicago Cubs player.
What does 'double print' mean for this card?
Roughly 50% more of these cards were printed than their neighbors, so double prints (DP) are the most plentiful cards in the set. It is a print-quantity note, not an error or a separate card.
Is the 1953 Topps Toby Atwell 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.