Jackie Robinson vs. Satchel Paige: The Best 1953 Topps Card to Buy
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Turn back the clock to 1945, and two of baseball's most legendary names, Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige, were teammates on the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. For Robinson it was his first year in professional baseball, and all he did was lead the league in homers and doubles while pacing all shortstops in hits, runs, steals, and runs batted in. For Paige it was seemingly the twilight of a great career finally succumbing to injuries and Father Time.
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At the time few would have guessed that the two would find themselves as opponents at the 1952 All-Star Game at Philadelphia's Shibe Park. For one thing, it would have required the breaking of the Color Barrier, one of Baseball's most entrenched institutions. For another, it would have required that Satchel Paige not only stick around long enough to pitch at age 46 but somehow do so at an all-star level. And yet, there they were.
1953 Topps Reunion
Though rain halted the 1952 Midsummer Classic early and precluded any Paige vs. Robinson matchup, the two faced off again in the 1953 Topps set. For Robinson, it was his second time appearing in packs of Topps, having also been part of the 1952 high number series. In this case, he was anything but a high number, leading off the 1953 checklist with card #1.
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For Paige, the set marked his first and only appearance in Topps packs, apart from much later post-career issues. His card, numbered 220, came in the set's third series. Some collectors bemoan the card's misspelling of Satchel's nickname, but they are likely unaware that even Satch signed his name with the double-L at the time.
Card Values
To an extent, the Hobby has already declared the winner of the 1953 Topps Jackie vs Satchel matchup. Robinson's cards are the more expensive at virtually every grade. However, the playing field is nearly even if Robinson gives up a grade and the comparison is made between, for example, a PSA 3 for Jackie and PSA 4 for Satchel. In this case, card values are roughly equal and have been so for the bulk of the last twelve months.
The Case for Jackie
If there's a truism in the Hobby, it's that you can never go wrong with a Jackie card. After all, Jackie was not just an elite player on the field but the most important player in the game's history off the field. It's cliche to say Jackie transcended sports, but that's exactly what he did.
The Case for Satch
The case for Satch largely comes down to how few playing era cards he has available. Once his 1949 Leaf and Bowman cards and other rarities are ruled out for budgetary reasons, the 1953 Topps is all that's left. Whiff on the 1953, and you're more or less shut out. (There are some Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns "picture pack" cards, but not all collectors count these as true baseball cards.) Meanwhile, a collector passing on the '53 Jackie can enjoy cheaper options in 1954, 1955, and 1956.
The Verdict
The obvious answer is that there's no wrong answer. Either card is a near-automatic dream card in any collection. Perhaps the kobayashi maru in this situation is to drop the card grades a notch or two and buy the pair for the same money that might have gone to just one. After all, these men were teammates 80 years ago. Isn't it high time they be reunited!
Jason A. Schwartz is a collectibles expert whose work can be found regularly at SABR Baseball Cards, Hobby News Daily, and 1939Bruins.com. His collection of Hank Aaron baseball cards and memorabilia is currently on exhibit at the Atlanta History Center, and his collectibles-themed artwork is on display at the Honus Wagner Museum and PNC Park.