While browsing Mastro Auctions’ October 2004 Classic Collector Auction Catalog, I came across an incredible item simply titled “1953 Topps Original Artwork for Unissued Card,” without any description. None of the items in the Classic Collector catalogs had descriptions, as they were less distinctive auctions meant to be primarily online, so I presume there was more information on the website.
I was having trouble identifying the pictured player and reached out to Keith Olbermann, who seemed to instantly recognize him as Jim Suchecki. Keith also pointed me toward a great piece from The Topps Archives that discusses much of the original Topps 1953 baseball artwork, including several unissued examples, titled Unissued and Unknown. Given that the other art pieces are described as being 3.25 by 4.75 inches, I’d guess this one’s the same size.
SABR’s bio for Suchecki says that on March 4, 1952, the Pirates purchased his contract from St. Louis but then returned him after five relief appearances on a “make good” basis. The Chicago White Sox then selected him off waivers on May 5 and assigned him to the Southern Association’s Memphis Chickasaws, where he went 14–7 with a 3.62 ERA. I surmise that after that success, Topps suspected he might make the White Sox’s 1953 roster and had the artwork prepared. But on April 5, 1953, his contract was sold to the Dallas Eagles before he was later sold to the Seattle Rainiers, so Topps likely abandoned issuing the card.
Check out The Original Artwork Archive for more!
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