1953 Topps #140 Tommy Glaviano
1953 Topps #140 Tommy Glaviano
About Tommy Glaviano
A right-handed third baseman out of Sacramento, California, Tommy Glaviano (born October 26, 1923; died January 19, 2004) signed with the St. Louis Cardinals at age 17, completing two farm seasons before serving three years in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. A strong 1948 for Columbus, Ohio (a .415 on-base percentage over 106 games) won him the Cardinals' third-base job in 1949. He played five big-league seasons, with St. Louis (1949-1952) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1953), batting .257 with 259 hits, 24 home runs, and 108 RBI over 389 games; his sharp eye produced an unusually high .395 career on-base percentage. His best year came in 1950 (.285, 92 runs, 117 hits, 11 homers, 29 doubles) as the Cardinals' regular third baseman. That same season brought his most infamous moment: on May 18, 1950, at Ebbets Field, Glaviano made four errors, three straight in the ninth inning, as St. Louis blew an 8-0 lead and lost 9-8 to the Dodgers. A short, stocky player, he was dubbed "a sawed-off Pepper Martin" by writer Bob Broeg, a nod to the old Gashouse Gang. His 1953 Topps card (#140) is known for a minor printing variation, with the back biography appearing in white text on some copies and black on others.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 393 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 87 | 114 | 85 | 78 | 0 |
| SGC | 43 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 3 |
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 Tommy Glaviano card?
It is card #140 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 Philadelphia Phillies player.
Is the 1953 Topps Tommy Glaviano 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.