1953 Topps #161 Vern Bickford
1953 Topps #161 Vern Bickford
About Vern Bickford
A right-handed pitcher out of Hellier, Kentucky, Vern Bickford broke into pro ball in the Class-D Mountain State League in 1939, lost time to World War II service, and reached the majors with the Boston Braves in 1948. He pitched seven big-league seasons (1948-1954), all but a single 1954 game for Baltimore coming with the Braves, and finished 66-57 with a 3.71 ERA and 450 strikeouts. As a rookie he joined the 1948 NL-pennant staff immortalized by "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain," and started (and lost) Game 3 of that World Series. Bickford earned an All-Star selection in 1949, then peaked in 1950 at 19-14, leading the National League in games started (39), complete games (27), and innings pitched (311.2). His signature moment came August 11, 1950, when he no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers 7-0 at Braves Field. Arm injuries cut his career short by 1955, and he died of stomach cancer on May 6, 1960, at just 39. This #161 card exists with a minor back-text printing variation (biography in white versus black type), a catalogued variation rather than a true error.
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.
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 | 419 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 83 | 129 | 93 | 79 | 1 |
| SGC | 44 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Vern Bickford card?
It is card #161 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 Boston Braves 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 Vern Bickford 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.