1953 Topps #128 Wilmer Mizell
1953 Topps #128 Wilmer Mizell
About Wilmer Mizell
A hard-throwing left-hander, Wilmer Mizell was signed by St. Louis Cardinals scout Buddy Lewis for $500 out of a Biloxi, Mississippi tryout camp in 1949 after impressing with his fastball around his high-school graduation. He tore through the Cardinals' farm system, leading the Texas League with 257 strikeouts for the Houston Buffaloes in 1951, and debuted with St. Louis in 1952. Over parts of nine major-league seasons (1952-53 and 1956-62) with the Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Mets, he went 90-88 with a 3.85 ERA and 918 strikeouts across 268 games. Named to the National League All-Star team in 1959, his signature triumph came in 1960, when a midseason trade to Pittsburgh helped the Pirates to the World Series title over the Yankees (clinched on Bill Mazeroski's Game 7 homer). His nickname came from Vinegar Bend, Alabama, the tiny town he adopted as home and where he received his mail. After baseball he served three terms as a Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1969-75). This #128 card is a documented double print and is found with the back biography printed in either black or white text, a minor series-two variation.
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 | 477 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 85 | 156 | 91 | 96 | 2 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 2 |
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 Wilmer Mizell card?
It is card #128 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 Cardinals 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 Wilmer Mizell 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.