Satchel Paige first pitched in the Negro Leagues in 1926 and would make his major league debut with Cleveland in 1948 at the ripe age of 41... maybe. Paige threw his last major league pitch in 1965 for the Athletics. It was his first big league appearance since 1953. His 40+ year professional career concluded in the minors in 1966 and he was the inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Seemingly a universal favorite and a card that tops the want list of many collectors, the 1953 Topps issue of Satchel Paige features a beautiful portrait image, depicting the wise pitcher grinning against a sky blue backdrop. The illustrations of 1953 Topps cards make them, in our opinion, the most attractive of all the Topps issues, and this example is fantastic for the grade. Soft corners and edges surround the image, which is nearly perfectly centered on the canvas. Light staining, particularly at the corners, indicates that this card has been well loved over the years. The back is clean and centered, too, giving this card tremendous eye appeal.