1953 Topps #159 Wayne Terwilliger
1953 Topps #159 Wayne Terwilliger
About Wayne Terwilliger
A World War II Marine who saw combat at Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima, Willard Wayne "Twig" Terwilliger returned home to star at Western Michigan and signed with the Chicago Cubs organization in 1948. The right-handed second baseman debuted on August 6, 1949, and played nine major-league seasons through 1960 for the Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, Washington Senators, New York Giants, and Kansas City Athletics. His finest year came with Washington the very season of this card: in 1953 he posted career highs across the board, hitting .252 as the Senators' regular second baseman. Over 666 games he batted .240 with 501 hits, 22 home runs, and 162 RBI. Terwilliger's greater legacy was longevity — he spent more than six decades in the game as a coach and minor-league manager, and was a first-base coach for the Minnesota Twins' World Series champions of 1987 and 1991 under Tom Kelly before later managing the independent Fort Worth Cats into his 80s. He died in 2021 at age 95. On this series-two card, note the documented minor printing variation: the back biography appears on some copies in black text and on others in white.
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 | 428 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 69 | 146 | 103 | 76 | 0 |
| SGC | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 1 |
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 Wayne Terwilliger card?
It is card #159 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 Washington Senators 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 Wayne Terwilliger 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.