1953 Topps #278 Willy Miranda
1953 Topps #278 Willy Miranda
About Willy Miranda
Guillermo "Willy" Miranda Perez, a switch-hitting, right-throwing shortstop born May 24, 1926 in Velasco, Cuba, signed with the Washington Senators in 1948 through legendary Cuban scout Joe Cambria and starred for the Almendares Alacranes in Cuba's winter league, winning five championships. He reached the majors with Washington in 1951 and played nine seasons (1951-1959) for the Senators, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Browns (his team on this 1953 high-number card), New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. A classic "good field, no hit" shortstop, Miranda batted just .221 with 423 hits, 6 home runs and 132 RBI over 824 games, but his glovework was celebrated: he led the American League in double plays in 1955, and Orioles manager Paul Richards credited his defense with helping stabilize Baltimore's early years. Traded to the Yankees during 1953, he earned a World Series ring on that year's champions without appearing in a game. As the first Cuban to play for the Yankees since the World War I era, Miranda remained a hero in his homeland until his death in 1996.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
High Number
Series 4 (#221-280). Printed in shorter supply and distributed late in the season, when retailers cut orders for the football months. The scarcest run in the set - holding #244 Willie Mays and the #258 Gilliam and #263 Podres rookies - and routinely 3-4x the price of low-number commons.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 451 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 46 | 111 | 105 | 158 | 2 |
| SGC | 85 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 47 | 4 |
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 Willy Miranda card?
It is card #278 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, and is his rookie card.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1953 Topps high-number series (#221-280), released late in the season in shorter supply - the scarcest run in the set, routinely 3-4 times the price of low-number commons.
Is the 1953 Topps Willy Miranda 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.