1953 Topps #142 Vic Wertz
1953 Topps #142 Vic Wertz
About Vic Wertz
A left-handed-hitting slugger from York, Pennsylvania, Vic Wertz signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent on July 1, 1942, and after minor-league stops at Winston-Salem and Buffalo (interrupted by Army service) reached the majors in 1947. Over 17 seasons (1947-1963) as an outfielder and first baseman he played for the Tigers, the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles, the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, and the Minnesota Twins, earning four American League All-Star selections (1949, 1951, 1952, 1957) and finishing with a .277 average, 266 home runs, and 1,178 RBI. Wertz is best remembered for the towering Game 1 fly ball he hit in the 1954 World Series that Willie Mays ran down over his shoulder in the Polo Grounds for "The Catch"; Wertz still went 8-for-16 in that Series for Cleveland. Stricken with nonparalytic polio in August 1955, he returned in 1956 to belt a career-high 32 home runs with 106 RBI and win the Comeback Player of the Year award. This St. Louis Browns card (#142) exists in a minor printing variation with the back biography in either black or white text. Wertz died July 7, 1983, at age 58.
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 | 456 | 0 | 5 | 51 | 100 | 119 | 100 | 81 | 0 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 21 | 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 Vic Wertz card?
It is card #142 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 St. Louis Browns player.
Is the 1953 Topps Vic Wertz 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.