1953 Topps #30 Willard Nixon
1953 Topps #30 Willard Nixon
About Willard Nixon
A right-handed pitcher (who batted left-handed) out of Taylorsville, Georgia, Willard Nixon signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1948 after a dazzling run at Auburn University, where he once fanned 20 Ole Miss batters in a game and threw an 18-strikeout no-hitter against Tennessee. To sidestep baseball's bonus rule, he famously turned down offers reportedly as high as $30,000 to sign for under $6,000, saying he "didn't think I was good enough to start at the top." After seasoning in the Red Sox farm system (Scranton, Louisville, Birmingham), he debuted July 7, 1950, and spent his entire nine-season major-league career (1950–1958) in Boston, going 69–72 with a 4.39 ERA, 616 strikeouts, 51 complete games, and nine shutouts in 225 appearances. Nixon earned the nickname "Yankee Killer" for his uncanny mastery of New York, beating the powerhouse Yankees five straight times in 1954–1955, including tense 1–0 duels. A rare good-hitting pitcher, he led all American League hurlers with a .293 average in 1957. Chronic arm trouble ended his career after 1958; he then scouted for the Red Sox from 1959 to 1963. He died in Rome, Georgia, in 2000 at age 72.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 406 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 84 | 109 | 90 | 77 | 1 |
| SGC | 43 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 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 Willard Nixon card?
It is card #30 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 Red Sox player.
Is the 1953 Topps Willard Nixon 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.