1953 Bowman
1953 Bowman Baseball
(color and black & white)
# of cards: 160 color, 64 b/w
Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 3 3/4
The 53s were Bowman's best effort - too little too late
Collector Score – color set: **** (4 stars)
Black & white set: ** (2 stars)
Complete set: *** (3 stars)
The 1953 Bowman card issue was strange. First of all, the card size was changed again in order to compete with Topps larger cards. The first two series (#1-112 and #113-128) were issued in color. Then a third series was issued in black & white, and numbered 1-64. These have always been treated as two separate sets, although the backs are identical and the design is consistent for both, and completely different players are represented.
What actually happened was that Bowman was going broke. After a disastrous year in 1952 when Topps blew them away with a far superior product, Bowman spent more than they could afford in creating the 1952 edition, which truly is a beautiful set featuring color photos and no writing on the fronts. Then they started having money problems and had to issue the series of black & whites as cheaply as possible simply to fulfil contract obligations. Nobody liked the monochrome cards then, and few people like them now. This makes them scarcer than the color cards. They are less valuable, because all of the big names were included in the color series. We feel that all of the cards ought to be considered as a single set because otherwise, color-only collectors will have to do without Casey Stengel and the other ballplayers found only in the black & white set.
Prices reflect value in Near Mint condition
COMPLETE SET (Color): 21,000.00
COMPLETE SET (B&W): 3,500.00
COMPLETE SET (Both): 25,000.00
COLOR SET:
1953 Bowman (color) #1 Davey Williams 250.00
1953 Bowman (color) #2 Vic Wertz 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #3 Sam Jethroe 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #4 Art Houtteman 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #5 Sid Gordon 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #6 Joe Ginsberg 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #7 Harry Chiti Rookie 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #8 Al Rosen 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #9 Phil Rizzuto 300.00
1953 Bowman (color) #10 Richie Ashburn 250.00
1953 Bowman (color) #11 Bobby Shantz 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #12 Carl Erskine 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #13 Gus Zernial 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #14 Billy Loes 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #15 Jim Busby 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #16 Bob Friend 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #17 Gerry Staley 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #18 Nellie Fox 200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #19 Alvin Dark 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #20 Don Lenhardt 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #21 Joe Garagiola 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #22 Bob Porterfield 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #23 Herman Wehmeier 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #24 Jackie Jensen 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #25 Hoot Evers 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #26 Roy McMillan 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #27 Vic Raschi 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #28 Smoky Burgess 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #29 Bobby Avila 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #30 Phil Cavarretta 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #31 Jimmy Dykes Mgr 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #32 Stan Musial 800.00
1953 Bowman (color) #33 Pee Wee Reese 1,400.00
1953 Bowman (color) #34 Gil Coan 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #35 Maurice McDermott 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #36 Minnie Minoso 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #37 Jim Wilson 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #38 Harry Byrd Rookie 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #39 Paul Richards Mgr 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #40 Larry Doby 150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #41 Sammy White 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #42 Tommy Brown 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #43 Mike Garcia 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #44 Berra-Bauer-Mantle 1,200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #45 Walt Dropo 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #46 Roy Campanella 500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #47 Ned Garver 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #48 Hank Sauer 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #49 Eddie Stanky Mgr 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #50 Lou Kretlow 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #51 Monte Irvin 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #52 Marty Marion Mgr 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #53 Del Rice 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #54 Chico Carrasquel 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #55 Leo Durocher Mgr 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #56 Bob Cain 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #57 Lou Boudreau Mgr 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #58 Willard Marshall 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #59 Mickey Mantle 2,500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #60 Granny Hamner 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #61 George Kell 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #62 Ted Kluszewski 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #63 Gil McDougald 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #64 Curt Simmons 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #65 Robin Roberts 150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #66 Mel Parnell 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #67 Mel Clark Rookie 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #68 Allie Reynolds 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #69 Charlie Grimm Mgr 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #70 Clint Courtney Rookie 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #71 Paul Minner 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #72 Ted Gray 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #73 Billy Pierce 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #74 Don Mueller 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #75 Saul Rogovin 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #76 Jim Hearn 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #77 Mickey Grasso 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #78 Carl Furillo 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #79 Ray Boone 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #80 Ralph Kiner 150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #81 Enos Slaughter 150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #82 Joe Astroth 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #83 Jack Daniels Rookie 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #84 Hank Bauer 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #85 Solly Hemus 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #86 Harry Simpson 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #87 Harry Perkowski 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #88 Joe Dobson 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #89 Sandy Consuegra 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #90 Joe Nuxhall 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #91 Steve Souchock 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #92 Gil Hodges 400.00
1953 Bowman (color) #93 Rizzuto & Martin 500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #94 Bob Addis 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #95 Wally Moses Coach 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #96 Sal Maglie 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #97 Eddie Mathews 500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #98 Hector Rodriguez Rookie 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #99 Warren Spahn 450.00
1953 Bowman (color) #100 Bill Wight 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #101 Red Schoendienst 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #102 Jim Hegan 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #103 Del Ennis 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #104 Luke Easter 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #105 Eddie Joost 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #106 Ken Raffensberger 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #107 Alex Kellner 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #108 Bobby Adams 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #109 Ken Wood 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #110 Bob Rush 50.00
1953 Bowman (color) #111 Jim Dyck Rookie 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #112 Toby Atwell 60.00
1953 Bowman (color) #113 Karl Drews 75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #114 Bob Feller 700.00
1953 Bowman (color) #115 Cloyd Boyer 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #116 Eddie Yost 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #117 Duke Snider 800.00
1953 Bowman (color) #118 Billy Martin 500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #119 Dale Mitchell 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #120 Marlin Stuart 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #121 Yogi Berra 900.00
1953 Bowman (color) #122 Bill Serena 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #123 Johnny Lipon 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #124 Chuck Dressen Mgr 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #125 Fred Hatfield 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #126 Al Corwin 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #127 Dick Kryhoski 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #128 Whitey Lockman 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #129 Russ Meyer 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #130 Cass Michaels 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #131 Connie Ryan 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #132 Fred Hutchinson 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #133 Willie Jones 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #134 Johnny Pesky 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #135 Bobby Morgan 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #136 Jim Brideweser Rookie 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #137 Sam Dente 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #138 Bubba Church 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #139 Pete Runnels 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #140 Al Brazle 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #141 Frank Shea 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #142 Larry Miggins Rookie 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #143 Al Lopez Mgr 150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #144 Warren Hacker 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #145 George Shuba 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #146 Early Wynn 300.00
1953 Bowman (color) #147 Clem Koshorek 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #148 Billy Goodman 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #149 Al Corwin 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #150 Carl Scheib 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #151 Joe Adcock 150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #152 Clyde Vollmer 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #153 Whitey Ford 1,200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #154 Turk Lown 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #155 Allie Clark 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #156 Max Surkont 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #157 Sherm Lollar 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #158 Howard Fox 100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #159 Mickey Vernon 125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #160 Cal Abrams 600.00
BLACK & WHITE SET (image below)
1953 Bowman (b/w) #1 Gus Bell 150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #2 Willard Nixon 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #3 Bill Rigney 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #4 Pat Mullin 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #5 Dee Fondy 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #6 Ray Murray 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #7 Andy Seminick 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #8 Pete Suder 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #9 Walt Masterson 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #10 Dick Sisler 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #11 Dick Gernert 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #12 Randy Jackson 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #13 Joe Tipton 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #14 Bill Nicholson 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #15 Johnny Mize 150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #16 Stu Miller Rookie 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #17 Virgil Trucks 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #18 Billy Hoeft 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #19 Paul LaPalme 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #20 Eddie Robinson 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #21 Clarence Podbielan 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #22 Matt Batts 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #23 Wilmer Mizell 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #24 Del Wilber 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #25 Johnny Sain 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #26 Preacher Roe 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #27 Bob Lemon 200.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #28 Hoyt Wilhelm 150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #29 Sid Hudson 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #30 Walker Cooper 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #31 Gene Woodling 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #32 Rocky Bridges 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #33 Bob Kuzava 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #34 Ebba St.Claire 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #35 Johnny Wyrostek 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #36 Jimmy Piersall 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #37 Hal Jeffcoat 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #38 Dave Cole 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #39 Casey Stengel Mgr 400.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #40 Larry Jansen 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #41 Bob Ramazzotti 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #42 Howie Judson 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #43 v1 Hal Bevan b. 1950 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #43 v2 Hal Bevan b. 1930 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #44 Jim Delsing 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #45 Irv Noren 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #46 Bucky Harris Mgr 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #47 Jack Lohrke 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #48 Steve Ridzik Rookie 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #49 Floyd Baker 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #50 Dutch Leonard 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #51 Lew Burdette 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #52 Ralph Branca 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #53 Morrie Martin 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #54 Bill Miller 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #55 Don Johnson 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #56 Roy Smalley 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #57 Andy Pafko 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #58 Jim Konstanty 75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #59 Duane Pillette 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #75.00 Billy Cox 100.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #61 Tom Gorman Rookie 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #62 Keith Thomas Rookie 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #63 Steve Gromek 50.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #64 Andy Hansen 100.00
Preacher Roe, relegated to the monochrome heap in '53
