1954 Topps #13 Billy Martin
1954 Topps #13 Billy Martin
About Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin Jr. (born May 16, 1928, in Berkeley, California; died December 25, 1989) was a scrappy right-handed-hitting second baseman signed out of high school in 1946, reaching the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League before the New York Yankees acquired his contract in 1949. He debuted in 1950 and played 11 major-league seasons — the heart of them with the Yankees (1950-1953, 1955-1957), followed by stops with Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Minnesota. Martin batted .257 with 877 hits, 64 home runs and 333 RBI over 1,021 games, and earned his lone All-Star selection in 1956. A postseason gamer, he made the famous lunging catch of Jackie Robinson's wind-blown, bases-loaded popup to help save Game 7 of the 1952 World Series, then was named MVP of the 1953 World Series, collecting a record 23 total bases and driving in the Series-winning run in Game 6. His nickname "Billy" traced to his grandmother, who called him "bello" (beautiful) as a boy. Martin later became one of baseball's most combustible managers, winning the 1977 World Series with the Yankees. This is his card #13 in the 1954 Topps first series, printed with both white- and gray-back stock variations.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 1 (cards 1-50)
Every card in the first series exists with the standard white/cream back (United States) and a scarcer gray back printed for the Canadian market. The grays were printed in Canada on a darker, gray cardstock and distributed in Canadian nickel packs; they exist for cards 1-50 only and carry a small-to-moderate premium. This is the genuine 'Canadian' issue from which the 1952 Topps gray-back 'Canadian' myth mistakenly borrowed its name.
- White Back: Standard United States issue. White/cream card stock - the common back for cards 1-50.
- Gray Back — scarcer: The Canadian printing. Printed in Canada on a visibly gray/darker cardstock and distributed in Canadian packs; exists for the first series (#1-50) only. Scarcer than the white back and carries a premium - modest on commons, meaningful on the stars (Williams, Robinson, Spahn, Snider, Ford, Berra, etc.). Tell: the back stock is uniformly gray - not to be confused with edge-toning on a white back.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,814 | 0 | 5 | 100 | 192 | 353 | 327 | 830 | 7 |
| SGC | 563 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 26 | 42 | 120 | 346 | 16 |
PSA by back: White Back 1,795 · Gray Back 19
SGC by back: White Back 560 · Gray Back 3
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Billy Martin card?
It is card #13 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the New York Yankees player.
Does the 1954 Topps Billy Martin have back variations?
Yes. Every card in the first series exists with the standard white/cream back (United States) and a scarcer gray back printed for the Canadian market. The grays were printed in Canada on a darker, gray cardstock and distributed in Canadian nickel packs; they exist for cards 1-50 only and carry a small-to-moderate premium. This is the genuine 'Canadian' issue from which the 1952 Topps gray-back 'Canadian' myth mistakenly borrowed its name.
Is the 1954 Topps Billy Martin valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. 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.