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): $27,000.00
COMPLETE SET (B&W): $5,000.00
COMPLETE SET (Both): $32,000.00
COLOR SET:
1953 Bowman (color) #1 Davey Williams $400.00
1953 Bowman (color) #2 Vic Wertz $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #3 Sam Jethroe $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #4 Art Houtteman $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #5 Sid Gordon $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #6 Joe Ginsberg $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #7 Harry Chiti Rookie $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #8 Al Rosen $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #9 Phil Rizzuto $500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #10 Richie Ashburn $400.00
1953 Bowman (color) #11 Bobby Shantz $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #12 Carl Erskine $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #13 Gus Zernial $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #14 Billy Loes $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #15 Jim Busby $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #16 Bob Friend $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #17 Gerry Staley $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #18 Nellie Fox $300.00
1953 Bowman (color) #19 Alvin Dark $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #20 Don Lenhardt $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #21 Joe Garagiola $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #22 Bob Porterfield $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #23 Herman Wehmeier $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #24 Jackie Jensen $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #25 Hoot Evers $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #26 Roy McMillan $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #27 Vic Raschi $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #28 Smoky Burgess $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #29 Bobby Avila $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #30 Phil Cavarretta $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #31 Jimmy Dykes Mgr $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #32 Stan Musial $1,200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #33 Pee Wee Reese $2,000.00
1953 Bowman (color) #34 Gil Coan $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #35 Maurice McDermott $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #36 Minnie Minoso $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #37 Jim Wilson $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #38 Harry Byrd Rookie $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #39 Paul Richards Mgr $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #40 Larry Doby $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #41 Sammy White $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #42 Tommy Brown $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #43 Mike Garcia $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #44 Berra-Bauer-Mantle $1,750.00
1953 Bowman (color) #45 Walt Dropo $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #46 Roy Campanella $800.00
1953 Bowman (color) #47 Ned Garver $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #48 Hank Sauer $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #49 Eddie Stanky Mgr $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #50 Lou Kretlow $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #51 Monte Irvin $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #52 Marty Marion Mgr $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #53 Del Rice $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #54 Chico Carrasquel $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #55 Leo Durocher Mgr $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #56 Bob Cain $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #57 Lou Boudreau Mgr $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #58 Willard Marshall $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #59 Mickey Mantle $4,000.00
1953 Bowman (color) #60 Granny Hamner $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #61 George Kell $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #62 Ted Kluszewski $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #63 Gil McDougald $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #64 Curt Simmons $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #65 Robin Roberts $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #66 Mel Parnell $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #67 Mel Clark Rookie $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #68 Allie Reynolds $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #69 Charlie Grimm Mgr $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #70 Clint Courtney Rookie $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #71 Paul Minner $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #72 Ted Gray $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #73 Billy Pierce $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #74 Don Mueller $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #75 Saul Rogovin $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #76 Jim Hearn $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #77 Mickey Grasso $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #78 Carl Furillo $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #79 Ray Boone $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #80 Ralph Kiner $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #81 Enos Slaughter $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #82 Joe Astroth $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #83 Jack Daniels Rookie $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #84 Hank Bauer $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #85 Solly Hemus $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #86 Harry Simpson $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #87 Harry Perkowski $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #88 Joe Dobson $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #89 Sandy Consuegra $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #90 Joe Nuxhall $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #91 Steve Souchock $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #92 Gil Hodges $600.00
1953 Bowman (color) #93 Rizzuto & Martin $800.00
1953 Bowman (color) #94 Bob Addis $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #95 Wally Moses Coach $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #96 Sal Maglie $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #97 Eddie Mathews $800.00
1953 Bowman (color) #98 Hector Rodriguez Rookie $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #99 Warren Spahn $600.00
1953 Bowman (color) #100 Bill Wight $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #101 Red Schoendienst $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #102 Jim Hegan $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #103 Del Ennis $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #104 Luke Easter $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #105 Eddie Joost $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #106 Ken Raffensberger $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #107 Alex Kellner $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #108 Bobby Adams $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #109 Ken Wood $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #110 Bob Rush $75.00
1953 Bowman (color) #111 Jim Dyck Rookie $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #112 Toby Atwell $100.00
1953 Bowman (color) #113 Karl Drews $125.00
1953 Bowman (color) #114 Bob Feller $1,000.00
1953 Bowman (color) #115 Cloyd Boyer $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #116 Eddie Yost $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #117 Duke Snider $1,200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #118 Billy Martin $800.00
1953 Bowman (color) #119 Dale Mitchell $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #120 Marlin Stuart $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #121 Yogi Berra $1,200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #122 Bill Serena $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #123 Johnny Lipon $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #124 Chuck Dressen Mgr $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #125 Fred Hatfield $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #126 Al Corwin $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #127 Dick Kryhoski $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #128 Whitey Lockman $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #129 Russ Meyer $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #130 Cass Michaels $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #131 Connie Ryan $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #132 Fred Hutchinson $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #133 Willie Jones $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #134 Johnny Pesky $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #135 Bobby Morgan $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #136 Jim Brideweser Rookie $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #137 Sam Dente $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #138 Bubba Church $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #139 Pete Runnels $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #140 Al Brazle $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #141 Frank Shea $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #142 Larry Miggins Rookie $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #143 Al Lopez Mgr $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #144 Warren Hacker $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #145 George Shuba $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #146 Early Wynn $500.00
1953 Bowman (color) #147 Clem Koshorek $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #148 Billy Goodman $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #149 Al Corwin $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #150 Carl Scheib $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #151 Joe Adcock $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #152 Clyde Vollmer $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #153 Whitey Ford $1,750.00
1953 Bowman (color) #154 Turk Lown $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #155 Allie Clark $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #156 Max Surkont $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #157 Sherm Lollar $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #158 Howard Fox $150.00
1953 Bowman (color) #159 Mickey Vernon $200.00
1953 Bowman (color) #160 Cal Abrams $800.00
BLACK & WHITE SET (image below)
1953 Bowman (b/w) #1 Gus Bell $200.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #2 Willard Nixon $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #3 Bill Rigney $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #4 Pat Mullin $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #5 Dee Fondy $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #6 Ray Murray $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #7 Andy Seminick $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #8 Pete Suder $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #9 Walt Masterson $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #10 Dick Sisler $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #11 Dick Gernert $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #12 Randy Jackson $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #13 Joe Tipton $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #14 Bill Nicholson $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #15 Johnny Mize $200.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #16 Stu Miller Rookie $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #17 Virgil Trucks $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #18 Billy Hoeft $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #19 Paul LaPalme $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #20 Eddie Robinson $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #21 Clarence Podbielan $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #22 Matt Batts $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #23 Wilmer Mizell $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #24 Del Wilber $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #25 Johnny Sain $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #26 Preacher Roe $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #27 Bob Lemon $300.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #28 Hoyt Wilhelm $200.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #29 Sid Hudson $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #30 Walker Cooper $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #31 Gene Woodling $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #32 Rocky Bridges $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #33 Bob Kuzava $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #34 Ebba St.Claire $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #35 Johnny Wyrostek $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #36 Jimmy Piersall $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #37 Hal Jeffcoat $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #38 Dave Cole $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #39 Casey Stengel Mgr $600.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #40 Larry Jansen $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #41 Bob Ramazzotti $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #42 Howie Judson $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #43 v1 Hal Bevan b. 1950 $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #43 v2 Hal Bevan b. 1930 $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #44 Jim Delsing $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #45 Irv Noren $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #46 Bucky Harris Mgr $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #47 Jack Lohrke $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #48 Steve Ridzik Rookie $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #49 Floyd Baker $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #50 Dutch Leonard $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #51 Lew Burdette $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #52 Ralph Branca $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #53 Morrie Martin $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #54 Bill Miller $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #55 Don Johnson $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #56 Roy Smalley $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #57 Andy Pafko $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #58 Jim Konstanty $125.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #59 Duane Pillette $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #60 75.00 Billy Cox $150.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #61 Tom Gorman Rookie $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #62 Keith Thomas Rookie $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #63 Steve Gromek $75.00
1953 Bowman (b/w) #64 Andy Hansen $150.00
