1954 Topps Baseball Cards
Product Details
Headlined by rookie cards for several of the greatest baseball players of all-time, 1954 Topps Baseball is further enhanced by a strong veteran roster.
The appealing design and impressive checklist has resulted in one of the more timeless vintage baseball sets.
1954 Topps Baseball Set Details
1954 Topps Baseball was distributed in three different series, including Series 1 (#1-50), Series 2 (#51-75), and Series 3 (#76-250). Although there are not any known short prints, gray backs were issued in Canada for the first series, in addition to the standard white background cards that were available in the United States.
Loaded with Hall of Fame talent, Hank Aaron, Al Kaline, and Ernie Banks are the key rookie cards in 1954 Topps Baseball. Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Jackie Robinson are other top Hall of Fame options. Although not nearly on the same level as the rookie cards referenced above, collectors can also find the rookie card for Tommy Lasorda in 1954 Topps.
From a design standpoint, the 1954 Topps Baseball cards are slightly oversized, measuring 2-5/8" by 3-3/4". For the first time ever on a Topps set, the cards include multiple photographs. The design features a colorized player portrait, as well as a black-and-white action shot. Card fronts come with a variety of colorful backgrounds, including white, yellow, light blue, green, red, orange and dark orange. The cards also display the player's name, position, team logo and facsimile signature.
The 1954 Topps Baseball card backs provide both statistical and biographical information about the player. This includes the card number, a write-up about the player's career, and a cartoon frame featuring animated photos. '54 Topps card backs can be found with either white, black, red, green, or flesh-tone color schemes.
One of the most unique and frustrating quirks for collectors regarding the set is the orientation of the card backs. The 1954 Topps Baseball cards purposely do not have a white border on the top of the card. This was because the tops of the cards were lined up against those of the next row on the printing sheet. What resulted is that half of the cards were printed upside down.
Unfortunately, it appears that the press operator forgot to orient the card backs accordingly. So if you go to a card show today and thumb through a box of 1954 Topps, you'll likely find that one-half of the cards have the card number at the top, and the remainder have it at the bottom.
Amidst all the rivalry between Bowman and Topps to sign players to exclusive contracts, Topps landed its biggest coup when they secured the rights to produce cards of returning veteran Ted Williams. One of the game's greatest players and fan favorites, Williams' inclusion in the set proved to be a key turning point for the company in relation to market share.
With a willingness to outspend its competitor, Topps laid the foundation for what would become an almost thirty-year monopoly in the baseball card market. To capitalize on their investment, Topps produced two cards of Ted Williams. Book-ending the product with card #1 and #250, these cards are often found with the same defects that plague most vintage cards to fall first or last in the set.
Another interesting card option showcases twin baseball players. Eddie and Johnny O'Brien both played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1950s and were the first twins in MLB history to play for the same team in the same game. The brothers share space on card #139. While neither had very notable careers, the card maintains solid value.
Despite the strong 1954 Topps Baseball checklist, there are several glaring omissions. The battle of player-exclusive contracts isn't new to the hobby, and in 1954, Bowman was able to secure the baseball card rights to Mickey Mantle, Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella, thereby preventing their inclusion in '54 Topps.
Key Cards
Key 1954 Topps Baseball Cards
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#1 Ted Williams
#10 Jackie Robinson
#50 Yogi Berra
#90 Willie Mays
#94 Ernie Banks RC
#128 Hank Aaron RC
#201 Al Kaline RC
#250 Ted Williams
Set Checklist
1954 Topps Baseball Set Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 Gus Zernial - Philadelphia Athletics
3 Monte Irvin - New York Giants
4 Hank Sauer - Chicago Cubs
5 Ed Lopat - New York Yankees
6 Pete Runnels - Washington Senators
7 Ted Kluszewski - Cincinnati Redlegs
8 Bobby Young - Baltimore Orioles
9 Harvey Haddix - St. Louis Cardinals
10 Jackie Robinson - Brooklyn Dodgers
11 Paul Smith - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
12 Del Crandall - Milwaukee Braves
13 Billy Martin - New York Yankees
14 Preacher Roe - Brooklyn Dodgers
15 Al Rosen - Cleveland Indians
16 Vic Janowicz - Pittsburgh Pirates
17 Phil Rizzuto - New York Yankees
18 Walt Dropo - Detroit Tigers
19 Johnny Lipon - Chicago White Sox
20 Warren Spahn - Milwaukee Braves
21 Bobby Shantz - Philadelphia Athletics
22 Jim Greengrass - Cincinnati Redlegs
23 Luke Easter - Cleveland Indians
24 Granny Hamner - Philadelphia Phillies
25 Harvey Kuenn - Detroit Tigers RC
26 Ray Jablonski - St. Louis Cardinals
27 Ferris Fain - Chicago White Sox
28 Paul Minner - Chicago Cubs
29 Jim Hegan - Cleveland Indians
30 Eddie Mathews - Milwaukee Braves
31 Johnny Klippstein - Chicago Cubs
32 Duke Snider - Brooklyn Dodgers
33 Johnny Schmitz - Washington Senators
34 Jim Rivera - Chicago White Sox
35 Junior Gilliam - Brooklyn Dodgers
36 Hoyt Wilhelm - New York Giants
37 Whitey Ford - New York Yankees
38 Eddie Stanky - St. Louis Cardinals
39 Sherm Lollar - Chicago White Sox
40 Mel Parnell - Boston Red Sox
41 Willie Jones - Philadelphia Phillies
42 Don Mueller - New York Giants
43 Dick Groat - Pittsburgh Pirates
44 Ned Garver - Detroit Tigers
45 Richie Ashburn - Philadelphia Phillies
46 Ken Raffensberger - Cincinnati Redlegs
47 Ellis Kinder - Boston Red Sox
48 Billy Hunter - Baltimore Orioles
49 Ray Murray - Philadelphia Athletics
50 Yogi Berra - New York Yankees
51 Johnny Lindell - Philadelphia Phillies
52 Vic Power - Philadelphia Athletics RC
53 Jack Dittmer - Milwaukee Braves
54 Vern Stephens - Baltimore Orioles
55 Phil Cavarretta - Chicago Cubs
56 Willy Miranda - New York Yankees
57 Luis Aloma - Chicago White Sox
58 Bob Wilson - Chicago White Sox
59 Gene Conley - Milwaukee Braves
60 Frank Baumholtz - Chicago Cubs
61 Bob Cain - Philadelphia Athletics
62 Eddie Robinson - New York Yankees
63 Johnny Pesky - Detroit Tigers
64 Hank Thompson - New York Giants
65 Bob Swift - Detroit Tigers
66 Ted Lepcio - Boston Red Sox
67 Jim Willis - Chicago Cubs RC
68 Sammy Calderone - Milwaukee Braves
69 Bud Podbielan - Cincinnati Redlegs
70 Larry Doby - Cleveland Indians
71 Frank Smith - Cincinnati Redlegs
72 Preston Ward - Pittsburgh Pirates
73 Wayne Terwilliger - Washington Senators
74 Bill Taylor - New York Giants RC
75 Fred Haney - Pittsburgh Pirates
76 Bob Scheffing - Chicago Cubs
77 Ray Boone - Detroit Tigers
78 Ted Kazanski - Philadelphia Phillies RC
79 Andy Pafko - Milwaukee Braves
80 Jackie Jensen - Boston Red Sox
81 Dave Hoskins - Cleveland Indians RC
82 Milt Bolling - Boston Red Sox
83 Joe Collins - New York Yankees
84 Dick Cole - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
85 Bob Turley - Baltimore Orioles RC
86 Billy Herman - Brooklyn Dodgers
87 Roy Face - Pittsburgh Pirates
88 Matt Batts - Detroit Tigers
89 Howie Pollet - Chicago Cubs
90 Willie Mays - New York Giants
91 Bob Oldis - Washington Senators
92 Wally Westlake - Cleveland Indians
93 Sid Hudson - Boston Red Sox
94 Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs RC
95 Hal Rice - Pittsburgh Pirates
96 Charlie Silvera - New York Yankees
97 Jerry Lane - Washington Senators RC
98 Joe Black - Brooklyn Dodgers
99 Bobby Hofman - New York Giants
100 Bob Keegan - Chicago White Sox
101 Gene Woodling - New York Yankees
102 Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers
103 Jim Lemon - Cleveland Indians RC
104 Mike Sandlock - Philadelphia Phillies
105 Andy Carey - New York Yankees
106 Dick Kokos - Baltimore Orioles
107 Duane Pillette - Baltimore Orioles
108 Thornton Kipper - Philadelphia Phillies RC
109 Bill Bruton - Milwaukee Braves
110 Harry Dorish - Chicago White Sox
111 Jim Delsing - Detroit Tigers
112 Bill Renna - Philadelphia Athletics RC
113 Bob Boyd - Chicago White Sox
114 Dean Stone - Washington Senators RC
115 Rip Repulski - St. Louis Cardinals
116 Steve Bilko - St. Louis Cardinals
117 Solly Hemus - St. Louis Cardinals
118 Carl Scheib - Philadelphia Athletics
119 Johnny Antonelli - New York Giants
120 Roy McMillan - Cincinnati Redlegs
121 Clem Labine - Brooklyn Dodgers
122 Johnny Logan - Milwaukee Braves
123 Bobby Adams - Cincinnati Redlegs
124 Marion Fricano - Philadelphia Athletics
125 Harry Perkowski - Cincinnati Redlegs
127 Steve O'Neill - Philadelphia Phillies
128 Henry Aaron - Milwaukee Braves RC
129 Forrest Jacobs - Philadelphia Athletics RC
130 Hank Bauer - New York Yankees
131 Reno Bertoia - Detroit Tigers RC
132 Tom Lasorda - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
133 Del Baker - Boston Red Sox
134 Cal Hogue - Pittsburgh Pirates
135 Joe Presko - St. Louis Cardinals
136 Connie Ryan - Cincinnati Redlegs
137 Wally Moon - St. Louis Cardinals RC
138 Bob Borkowski - Cincinnati Redlegs
139 Ed & John O'Brien - Pittsburgh Pirates
140 Tom Wright - Washington Senators
141 Joe Jay - Milwaukee Braves RC
142 Tom Poholsky - St. Louis Cardinals
143 Rollie Hemsley - Philadelphia Athletics
144 Bill Werle - Boston Red Sox
145 Elmer Valo - Philadelphia Athletics
146 Don Johnson - Chicago White Sox
147 Johnny Riddle - St. Louis Cardinals
148 Bob Trice - Philadelphia Athletics RC
149 Jim Robertson - Philadelphia Athletics RC
150 Dick Kryhoski - Baltimore Orioles
151 Alex Grammas - St. Louis Cardinals RC
152 Mike Blyzka - Baltimore Orioles RC
153 Rube Walker - Brooklyn Dodgers
154 Mike Fornieles - Chicago White Sox RC
155 Bob Kennedy - Cleveland Indians
156 Joe Coleman - Baltimore Orioles
157 Don Lenhardt - Baltimore Orioles
158 Peanuts Lowrey - St. Louis Cardinals
159 Dave Philley - Cleveland Indians
160 Red Kress - Cleveland Indians
161 John Hetki - Pittsburgh Pirates
162 Herman Wehmeier - Cincinnati Redlegs
163 Frank House - Detroit Tigers
164 Stu Miller - St. Louis Cardinals
165 Jim Pendleton - Milwaukee Braves
166 Johnny Podres - Brooklyn Dodgers
167 Don Lund - Detroit Tigers
168 Morrie Martin - Philadelphia Athletics
169 Jim Hughes - Brooklyn Dodgers
170 Jim Rhodes - New York Giants RC
171 Leo Kiely - Boston Red Sox
172 Hal Brown - Boston Red Sox
173 Jack Harshman - Chicago White Sox RC
174 Tom Qualters - Philadelphia Phillies RC
175 Frank Leja - New York Yankees RC
176 Bob Keely - Milwaukee Braves
177 Bob Milliken - Brooklyn Dodgers
178 Bill Glynn - Cleveland Indians
179 Gair Allie - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
180 Wes Westrum - New York Giants
181 Mel Roach - Milwaukee Braves RC
182 Chuck Harmon - Cincinnati Redlegs RC
183 Earle Combs - Philadelphia Phillies
184 Ed Bailey - Cincinnati Redlegs
185 Chuck Stobbs - Washington Senators
186 Karl Olson - Boston Red Sox
187 Heinie Manush - Washington Senators
188 Dave Jolly - Milwaukee Braves RC
189 Bob Ross - Washington Senators
190 Ray Herbert - Detroit Tigers RC
191 Dick Schofield - St. Louis Cardinals RC
192 Cot Deal - St. Louis Cardinals
193 Johnny Hopp - Detroit Tigers
194 Bill Sarni - St. Louis Cardinals RC
195 Billy Consolo - Boston Red Sox RC
196 Stan Jok - Philadelphia Phillies RC
197 Schoolboy Rowe - Detroit Tigers
198 Carl Sawatski - Chicago White Sox
199 Rocky Nelson - Cleveland Indians
200 Larry Jansen - New York Giants
201 Al Kaline - Detroit Tigers RC
202 Bob Purkey - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
203 Harry Brecheen - Baltimore Orioles
204 Angel Scull - Washington Senators RC
205 Johnny Sain - New York Yankees
206 Ray Crone - Milwaukee Braves RC
207 Tom Oliver - Baltimore Orioles
208 Grady Hatton - Cincinnati Redlegs
209 Charlie Thompson - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
210 Bob Buhl - Milwaukee Braves RC
211 Don Hoak - Brooklyn Dodgers
212 Mickey Micelotta - Philadelphia Phillies RC
213 John Fitzpatrick - Pittsburgh Pirates
214 Arnold Portocarrero - Philadelphia Athletics RC
215 Ed McGhee - Philadelphia Athletics
216 Al Sima - Chicago White Sox
217 Paul Schreiber - Boston Red Sox
218 Fred Marsh - Chicago White Sox
219 Charlie Kress - Detroit Tigers RC
220 Ruben Gomez - New York Giants RC
221 Dick Brodowski - Boston Red Sox
222 Bill Wilson - Chicago White Sox RC
223 Joe Haynes - Washington Senators
224 Dick Weik - Detroit Tigers RC
225 Don Liddle - New York Giants RC
226 Jehosie Heard - Baltimore Orioles RC
227 Buster Mills - Boston Red Sox
228 Gene Hermanski - Pittsburgh Pirates
229 Bob Talbot - Chicago Cubs RC
230 Bob Kuzava - New York Yankees
231 Roy Smalley - Milwaukee Braves
232 Lou Limmer - Philadelphia Athletics RC
233 Augie Galan - Philadelphia Athletics
234 Jerry Lynch - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
235 Vern Law - Pittsburgh Pirates
236 Paul Penson - Philadelphia Phillies RC
237 Mike Ryba - St. Louis Cardinals
238 Al Aber - Detroit Tigers
239 Bill Skowron - New York Yankees RC
240 Sam Mele - Baltimore Orioles
241 Bob Miller - Detroit Tigers RC
242 Curt Roberts - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
243 Ray Blades - Chicago Cubs
244 Leroy Wheat - Philadelphia Athletics RC
245 Roy Sievers - Washington Senators
246 Howie Fox - Baltimore Orioles
247 Eddie Mayo - Philadelphia Phillies
248 Al Smith - Cleveland Indians RC
249 Wilmer Mizell - St. Louis Cardinals
250 Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox
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| 1954 Topps Baseball 5 Cent 4 Card Wax Pack PSA 5 | $35,750.00 |  |
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Dan
The ’54 Topps set is one of my favorite, for sure. I am building the set, picking up about any grade I can find and then upgrading when I can. It makes some of the more expensive cards a little easier to handle.