1963 Topps #508 Ted Savage
About Ted Savage
The 1963 Topps #508 is a semi-high number out of the set's sixth print series, and it shows Savage with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Philadelphia had shipped him to the Bucs on November 28, 1962 along with Pancho Herrera in exchange for veteran Don Hoak. A Pittsburgh outfield built around Roberto Clemente left little room, and an extended stay on the disabled list - illness followed by a groin injury - cost him more. He got into just 85 games, hit .195 with five home runs and 14 RBI, and was nearly helpless against right-handers, batting .121 in 66 at-bats.
Ted Savage was a right-handed hitting outfielder from Venice, Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, who starred in baseball, football and basketball at East St. Louis's Lincoln High before attending Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. After three years in the US Army he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 1960, and in 1961 he won the International League batting title and Most Valuable Player award at Buffalo, hitting .325 with 24 home runs, 31 stolen bases and 111 runs scored. He reached the majors in 1962 and played nine seasons for eight clubs: the Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Reds, Brewers and Royals. Used mostly in a platoon or reserve outfield role and slowed at times by injuries, he had his best year in 1970 with Milwaukee, batting .279 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI. He finished with a .233 average, 34 home runs and 163 RBI in 642 games. Afterward Savage earned a doctorate in urban studies from Saint Louis University, spent nine years as athletic director at Harris-Stowe State University, and put in 25 years with the St. Louis Cardinals' community relations department. Buffalo's team hall of fame elected him in 2016, and he died in St. Louis in January 2023.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 271 | 0 | 15 | 130 | 81 | 31 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| SGC | 23 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-09-24. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8), and PSA's qualified grades are counted separately from the straight-grade rows shown here.
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Related cards
Team card: #151 Pittsburgh Pirates
More Pittsburgh Pirates cards:
- #18 Buc Blasters
- #34 Dick Schofield
- #55 Bill Virdon
- #87 Bob Veale
- #101 Joe Gibbon
- #122 Julio Gotay
- #159 Jim Pagliaroni
- #169 1963 Rookie Stars
- #184 Vern Law
- #215 Bob Skinner
- #228 1963 Rookie Stars
- #239 Harvey Haddix
- #259 Johnny Logan
- #281 Tom Sturdivant
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1963 Topps #508 card?
It is card #508 of the 576-card 1963 Topps Baseball set, picturing Ted Savage of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Why is #508 harder to find?
It is a semi-high card from the sixth print series, #447-511 - the run where the set's short prints sit. Scarcer than series 1-5, easier than series 7.
How many cards are in the 1963 Topps Baseball set?
576 cards, tracked as 583 collectible states. The numbers run from 1 to 576 with no gaps and no number used twice, and seven cards carry a catalogued print variation - three checklists, the two Rookie Stars cards also printed with a "1962" heading, and the #341 Jack Baldschun and #454 Art Fowler print states - that the master set counts separately.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, Cardboard Connection, BaseballCardPedia, The Topps Archives, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-03.