1973 Topps Leo Durocher Houston Astros Manager #526
Leo Durocher (Manager), Preston Gomez, Grady Hatton, Hub Kittle, Jim Owens (Coaches) · Topps · Base Manager/Coach Card
Player
Leo Durocher (Manager), Preston Gomez, Grady Hatton, Hub Kittle, Jim Owens (Coaches)
Set
1973 Topps Base Set
Year
1973
Card #
#526
Condition Grade
PSA 3 (VG) - Estimated. Centering is heavily shifted top-to-bottom. Bottom-right corner shows significant wear/rounding. Surface appears to have minor pitting/staining on the white border.
Category
Base Manager/Coach Card
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Moderate. Leo Durocher remains a legendary figure for baseball historians, ensuring steady demand among vintage collectors despite being an 'active manager' card rather than a player card.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$5.00 - $10.00
Graded Value
PSA 2: $12-15, PSA 3: $18-25, PSA 4: $30-40 (Note: Grading cost likely exceeds card value in this condition)
Comparable Sales
Recent raw copies of this card in similar VG condition have sold for $6 to $12. PSA 8 (NM-MT) copies typically range from $150 to $200, though this specific card would not reach that tier.
Description
A vintage 1973 Topps card featuring Hall of Fame manager Leo 'The Lip' Durocher during his tenure with the Houston Astros. The card utilizes a horizontal layout with a large color photo of Durocher and secondary black-and-white portraits of his coaching staff: Preston Gomez, Grady Hatton, Hub Kittle, and Jim Owens. The design features the iconic 1973 'silhouette' position icon in the center.
Key Features
Features Hall of Fame Manager Leo Durocher; Iconic 1973 Topps design; High number series card (#526) which often carries a slight premium over low numbers; Collectible for Astros team set builders and HOF completionists.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence in authenticity. Card stock shows correct 1973 grayish-brown cardboard pulp on back; ink absorption is consistent with 1970s printing technology; no signs of modern glossy reproduction or trimming.
Flaws to Note
Significant bottom-right corner rounding; Top-to-bottom centering is poor (top heavy); Minor surface blemishes and edge wear visible on the white card stock; General vintage 'softness' to the edges.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (Auction or Buy It Now), COMC for a hands-off approach, or local card shows. Topps vintage is highly liquid on eBay.
Selling Tips
This card is not a candidate for grading due to the centering and corner wear; sell it in 'Raw' condition. High-resolution photos of the front and back are essential. Mention 'HOF' or 'Hall of Fame' in the listing title to capture more search traffic.