1955 Bowman Baseball Cards

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The "swan song" for the original Bowman, 1955 Bowman Baseball marked the last baseball set before Topps acquired the brand following years of court battles.

Although it doesn't offer the same rookie power as earlier Bowman releases, or 1955 Topps Baseball, the brown-bordered vintage series should not be overlooked.

See also: 1954 Bowman Baseball Cards

1955 Bowman Baseball Set Details

Instantly recognizable thanks to the television-based design, 1955 Bowman Baseball is easily one of the most distinct of the era. It is also one of the most condition-sensitive. Featuring a wood-paneled frame highlighting stars via a horizontal layout, '55 Bowman covers the league on the small screen. Other than the frame with a "Color TV" notation, the only other attribute on the front is the player's last name.

1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 1

No, that's not your eyes playing tricks. The wood color shifts after the first 64 cards, which skew much lighter. The rest of the set comes in a clearly darker brown.

1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 2

As a result of the brown-border design, chipping is very common and problematic. Centering can also be an issue along with sizing inconsistency due to cutting problems. Creases are yet another possible issue that is not uncommon. This makes high-graded versions a rarity and adds a large premium.

In general, the card backs dedicate most of the space to a small blurb, with the stats tucked in on the side. The main bio takes several possible forms, including a standard player rundown as well as personal accounts from the player in question.

1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 3

Although not quite as exciting as ballplayers, one niche draw is the umpire-heavy high series totaling 31 umps to collect. For the umpires and some managers/coaches, the statistics are replaced with question-and-answer baseball trivia.

1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 4

In terms of the 1955 Bowman Baseball checklist, there are some decent hits and also some big strikeouts. As is nearly always the case, Mickey Mantle takes top billing. Other top cards include Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Ernie Banks.

While Bowman missed out on the rookies for Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax, the set does offer key cards not issued in 1955 Topps Baseball, including Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella and Whitey Ford.

There are a handful of variations to complete the master set. None are for major stars, though. In addition, incorrect birth years pop up multiple times, but were never corrected.

1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 5

Key Cards

Key 1955 Bowman Baseball Cards To Collect

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Mickey Mantle #202

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1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 2

Hank Aaron #179

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1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 7

Willie Mays #184

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1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 8

Ernie Banks #242

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1955 Bowman Baseball Cards 9

Set Checklist

1955 Bowman Baseball Checklist

Shop for available 1955 Bowman cards on eBay.

Base Set Checklist

320 cards.

1 Hoyt Wilhelm - New York Giants
2 Al Dark - New York Giants
3 Joe Coleman - Baltimore Orioles
4 Eddie Waitkus - Baltimore Orioles
5 Jim Robertson - Kansas City Athletics
6 Pete Suder - Kansas City Athletics
7 Gene Baker - Chicago Cubs RC
8 Warren Hacker - Chicago Cubs
9 Gil McDougald - New York Yankees
10 Phil Rizzuto - New York Yankees
11 Bill Bruton - Milwaukee Braves
12 Andy Pafko - Milwaukee Braves
13 Clyde Vollmer - Washington Senators
14 Gus Keriazakos - Washington Senators RC
15 Frank Sullivan - Boston Red Sox RC
16 Jim Piersall - Boston Red Sox
17 Del Ennis - Philadelphia Phillies
18 Stan Lopata - Philadelphia Phillies
19 Bobby Avila - Cleveland Indians
20 Al Smith - Cleveland Indians
21 Don Hoak - Brooklyn Dodgers
22 Roy Campanella - Brooklyn Dodgers
23 Al Kaline - Detroit Tigers
24 Al Aber - Detroit Tigers
25 Minnie Minoso - Chicago White Sox
26 Virgil Trucks - Chicago White Sox
27 Preston Ward - Pittsburgh Pirates
28 Dick Cole - Pittsburgh Pirates
29 Red Schoendienst - St. Louis Cardinals
30 Bill Sarni - St. Louis Cardinals
31 Johnny Temple - Cincinnati Redlegs RC
32 Wally Post - Cincinnati Redlegs
33 Nellie Fox - Chicago White Sox
34 Clint Courtney - Chicago White Sox
35 Bill Tuttle - Detroit Tigers RC
36 Wayne Belardi - Detroit Tigers RC
37 Pee Wee Reese - Brooklyn Dodgers
38 Early Wynn - Cleveland Indians
39 Bob Darnell - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
40 Vic Wertz - Cleveland Indians
41 Mel Clark - Philadelphia Phillies
42 Bob Greenwood - Philadelphia Phillies RC
43 Bob Buhl - Milwaukee Braves
44 Danny O'Connell - Milwaukee Braves
45 Tom Umphlett - Washington Senators
46 Mickey Vernon - Washington Senators
47 Sammy White - Boston Red Sox
48 Milt Bolling - Boston Red Sox
49 Jim Greengrass - Cincinnati Redlegs
50 Hobie Landrith - Cincinnati Redlegs
51 Elvin Tappe - Cincinnati Redlegs RC
52 Hal Rice - Chicago Cubs
53 Alex Kellner - Kansas City Athletics
54 Don Bollweg - Kansas City Athletics
55 Cal Abrams - Baltimore Orioles
56 Billy Cox - Baltimore Orioles
57 Bob Friend - Pittsburgh Pirates
58 Frank Thomas - Pittsburgh Pirates
59 Whitey Ford - New York Yankees
60 Enos Slaughter - New York Yankees
61 Paul LaPalme - St. Louis Cardinals
62 Royce Lint - St. Louis Cardinals RC
63 Irv Noren - New York Yankees
64 Curt Simmons - Philadelphia Phillies
65 Don Zimmer - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
66 George Shuba - Brooklyn Dodgers
67 Don Larsen - New York Yankees
68 Elston Howard - New York Yankees RC
69 Billy Hunter - New York Yankees
70 Lew Burdette - Milwaukee Braves
71 Dave Jolly - Milwaukee Braves
72 Chet Nichols - Milwaukee Braves
73 Eddie Yost - Washington Senators
74 Jerry Snyder - Washington Senators
75 Brooks Lawrence - St. Louis Cardinals RC
76 Tom Poholsky - St. Louis Cardinals
77 Jim McDonald - Baltimore Orioles RC
78 Gil Coan - Baltimore Orioles
79 Willy Miranda - Baltimore Orioles
80 Lou Limmer - Kansas City Athletics
81 Bobby Morgan - Philadelphia Phillies
82 Lee Walls - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
83 Max Surkont - Pittsburgh Pirates
84 George Freese - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
85 Cass Michaels - Chicago White Sox
86 Ted Gray - Chicago White Sox
87 Randy Jackson - Chicago Cubs
88 Steve Bilko - Chicago Cubs
89 Lou Boudreau - Kansas City Athletics
90 Art Ditmar - Kansas City Athletics RC
91 Dick Marlowe - Detroit Tigers RC
92 George Zuverink - Detroit Tigers
93 Andy Seminick - Cincinnati Redlegs
94 Hank Thompson - New York Giants
95 Sal Maglie - New York Giants
96 Ray Narleski - Cleveland Indians RC
97 Johnny Podres - Brooklyn Dodgers
98 Junior Gilliam - Brooklyn Dodgers
99 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees
100 Tom Morgan - New York Yankees
101 Don Johnson - Baltimore Orioles
102 Bobby Thomson - Milwaukee Braves
103 Eddie Mathews - Milwaukee Braves
104 Bob Porterfield - Washington Senators
105 Johnny Schmitz - Washington Senators
106 Del Rice - St. Louis Cardinals
107 Solly Hemus - St. Louis Cardinals
108 Lou Kretlow - Baltimore Orioles
109 Vern Stephens - Baltimore Orioles
110 Bob Miller - Philadelphia Phillies
111 Steve Ridzik - Philadelphia Phillies
112 Granny Hamner - Philadelphia Phillies
113 Bob Hall - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
114 Vic Janowicz - Pittsburgh Pirates
115 Roger Bowman - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
116 Sandy Consuegra - Chicago White Sox
117 Johnny Groth - Chicago White Sox
118 Bobby Adams - Cincinnati Redlegs
119 Joe Astroth - Kansas City Athletics
120 Ed Burtschy - Kansas City Athletics RC
121 Rufus Crawford - Detroit Tigers RC
122 Al Corwin - New York Giants
123 Marv Grissom - New York Giants RC
124 Johnny Antonelli - New York Giants
125 Paul Giel - New York Giants RC
126 Billy Goodman - Boston Red Sox
127 Hank Majeski - Cleveland Indians
128 Mike Garcia - Cleveland Indians
129 Hal Naragon - Cleveland Indians RC
130 Richie Ashburn - Philadelphia Phillies
131 Willard Marshall - Chicago White Sox
132 Harvey Kuenn - Detroit Tigers
133 Chick King - Detroit Tigers RC
134 Bob Feller - Cleveland Indians
135 Lloyd Merriman - Chicago White Sox
136 Rocky Bridges - Cincinnati Redlegs
137 Bob Talbot - Chicago Cubs
138 Davey Williams - New York Giants
139 Bobby Shantz/Billy Shantz - KC Athletics
140 Bobby Shantz - Kansas City Athletics
141 Wes Westrum - New York Giants
142 Rudy Regalado - Cleveland Indians RC
143 Don Newcombe - Brooklyn Dodgers
144 Art Houtteman - Cleveland Indians
145 Bob Nieman - Chicago White Sox RC
146 Don Liddle - New York Giants
147 Sam Mele - Boston Red Sox
148 Bob Chakales - Chicago White Sox
149 Cloyd Boyer - Kansas City Athletics
150 Billy Klaus - Boston Red Sox RC
151 Jim Brideweser - Chicago White Sox
152 Johnny Klippstein - Cincinnati Redlegs
153 Eddie Robinson - New York Yankees
154 Frank Lary - Detroit Tigers RC
155 Jerry Staley - Cincinnati Redlegs
156 Jim Hughes - Brooklyn Dodgers
157 Ernie Johnson - Milwaukee Braves
158 Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers
159 Harry Byrd - Baltimore Orioles
160 Bill Skowron - New York Yankees

161 Matt Batts - Baltimore Orioles
162 Charlie Maxwell - Baltimore Orioles
163 Sid Gordon - Pittsburgh Pirates
164 Toby Atwell - Pittsburgh Pirates
165 Maurice McDermott - Washington Senators
166 Jim Busby - Washington Senators
167 Bob Grim - New York Yankees RC
168 Yogi Berra - New York Yankees
169 Carl Furillo - Brooklyn Dodgers
170 Carl Erskine - Brooklyn Dodgers
171 Robin Roberts - Philadelphia Phillies
172 Willie Jones - Philadelphia Phillies
173 Chico Carrasquel - Chicago White Sox
174 Sherm Lollar - Chicago White Sox
175 Billy Shantz - Kansas City Athletics RC
176 Joe DeMaestri - Kansas City Athletics
177 Willard Nixon - Boston Red Sox
178 Tom Brewer - Boston Red Sox RC
179 Hank Aaron - Milwaukee Braves
180 Johnny Logan - Milwaukee Braves
181 Eddie Miksis - Chicago Cubs
182 Bob Rush - Chicago Cubs
183 Ray Katt - New York Giants
184 Willie Mays - New York Giants
185 Vic Raschi - St. Louis Cardinals
186 Alex Grammas - St. Louis Cardinals
187 Fred Hatfield - Detroit Tigers
188 Ned Garver - Detroit Tigers
189 Jack Collum - Cincinnati Redlegs
190 Fred Baczewski - Cincinnati Redlegs
191 Bob Lemon - Cleveland Indians
192 George Strickland - Cleveland Indians
193 Howie Judson - Cincinnati Redlegs
194 Joe Nuxhall - Cincinnati Redlegs
195 Erv Palica - Brooklyn Dodgers
196 Russ Meyer - Brooklyn Dodgers
197 Ralph Kiner - Cleveland Indians
198 Dave Pope - Cleveland Indians RC
199 Vern Law - Pittsburgh Pirates
200 Dick Littlefield - Pittsburgh Pirates
201 Allie Reynolds - New York Yankees
202 Mickey Mantle - New York Yankees
203 Steve Gromek - Detroit Tigers
204 Frank Bolling - Detroit Tigers RC
205 Rip Repulski - St. Louis Cardinals
206 Ralph Beard - St. Louis Cardinals RC
207 Spec Shea - Washington Senators
208 Ed Fitz Gerald - Washington Senators
209 Smoky Burgess - Philadelphia Phillies
210 Earl Torgeson - Philadelphia Phillies
211 Sonny Dixon - Kansas City Athletics RC
212 Jack Dittmer - Milwaukee Braves
213 George Kell - Chicago White Sox
214 Billy Pierce - Chicago White Sox
215 Bob Kuzava - Baltimore Orioles
216 Preacher Roe - Baltimore Orioles
217 Del Crandall - Milwaukee Braves
218 Joe Adcock - Milwaukee Braves
219 Whitey Lockman - New York Giants
220 Jim Hearn - New York Giants
221 Hal Brown - Boston Red Sox
222 Russ Kemmerer - Boston Red Sox RC
223 Hal Jeffcoat - Chicago Cubs
224 Dee Fondy - Chicago Cubs
225 Paul Richards - Baltimore Orioles
226 W.F. McKinley - Umpire
227 Frank Baumholtz - Chicago Cubs
228 Bubba Phillips - Detroit Tigers RC
229 Jim Brosnan - Chicago Cubs RC
230 Al Brazle - Chicago White Sox
231 Jim Konstanty - New York Yankees
232 Birdie Tebbetts - Cincinnati Redlegs
233 Bill Serena - Chicago White Sox
234 Dick Bartell - Cincinnati Redlegs
235 J.A. Paparella - Umpire
236 Murry Dickson - Philadelphia Phillies
237 Johnny Wyrostek - Philadelphia Phillies
238 Eddie Stanky - St. Louis Cardinals
239 Edwin A. Rommel - Umpire
240 Billy Loes - Brooklyn Dodgers
241 Johnny Pesky - Baltimore Orioles
242 Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs
243 Gus Bell - Cincinnati Redlegs
244 Duane Pillette - Baltimore Orioles
245 Bill Miller - Baltimore Orioles
246 Hank Bauer - New York Yankees
247 Dutch Leonard - Chicago Cubs
248 Harry Dorish - Chicago White Sox
249 Billy Gardner - New York Giants RC
250 Larry Napp - Umpire
251 Stan Jok - Chicago White Sox
252 Roy Smalley - Milwaukee Braves
253 Jim Wilson - Milwaukee Braves
254 Bennett Flowers - Detroit Tigers RC
255 Pete Runnels - Washington Senators
256 Owen Friend - Boston Red Sox
257 Tom Alston - St. Louis Cardinals RC
258 John W. Stevens - Umpire
259 Don Mossi - Cleveland Indians RC
260 Edwin H. Hurley - Umpire
261 Walt Moryn - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
262 Jim Lemon - Washington Senators
263 Eddie Joost - Cleveland Indians
264 Bill Henry - Boston Red Sox RC
265 Al Barlick - Umpire
266 Mike Fornieles - Chicago White Sox
267 George Honochick - Umpire
268 Roy Lee Hawes - Washington Senators RC
269 Joe Amalfitano - New York Giants RC
270 Chico Fernandez - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
271 Bill Hooper - Cleveland Indians
272 John Flaherty - Umpire
273 Bubba Church - Chicago Cubs
274 Jim Delsing - Detroit Tigers
275 William T. Grieve - Umpire
276 Ivan Delock - Boston Red Sox
277 Ed Runge - Umpire
278 Charles Neal - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
279 Hank Soar - Umpire
280 Clyde McCullough - Chicago Cubs
281 Charlie Berry - Umpire
282 Phil Cavarretta - Chicago White Sox
283 Nestor Chylak - Umpire
284 Bill Jackowski - Umpire
285 Walt Dropo - Chicago White Sox
286 Frank Secory - Umpire
287 Ron Mrozinski - Philadelphia Phillies RC
288 Dick Smith - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
289 Arthur J. Gore - Umpire
290 Hershell Freeman - Boston Red Sox RC
291 Frank Dascoli - Umpire
292 Marv Blaylock - Philadelphia Phillies RC
293 Thomas D. Gorman - Umpire
294 Wally Moses - Philadelphia Phillies
295 E. Lee Ballanfant - Umpire
296 Bill Virdon - St. Louis Cardinals RC
297 Dusty Boggess - Umpire
298 Charlie Grimm - Milwaukee Braves
299 Lon Warneke - Umpire
300 Tommy Byrne - New York Yankees
301 William R. Engeln - Umpire
302 Frank Malzone - Boston Red Sox RC
303 Jocko Conlan - Umpire
304 Harry Chiti - Chicago Cubs
305 Frank Umont - Umpire
306 Bob Cerv - New York Yankees
307 Babe Pinelli - Umpire
308 Al Lopez - Cleveland Indians
309 Hal H. Dixon - Umpire
310 Ken Lehman - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
311 Lawrence J. Goetz - Umpire
312 Bill Wight - Cleveland Indians
313 A.J. Donatelli - Umpire
314 Dale Mitchell - Cleveland Indians
315 Cal Hubbard - Umpire
316 Marion Fricano - Kansas City Athletics
317 William Summers - Umpire
318 Sid Hudson - Boston Red Sox
319 Al Schroll - Boston Red Sox RC
320 George Susce - Boston Red Sox RC

Base Variations Set Checklist

48 Milt Bolling - Back is for Frank Bolling
48 Milt Bolling - Corrected back
101 Don Johnson - Image shows Ernie Johnson
101 Don Johnson - Corrected image
132 Harvey Kuenn - Name listed as "Kueen" on back
132 Harvey Kuenn - Corrected name

157 Ernie Johnson - Image shows Don Johnson
157 Ernie Johnson - Corrected image
195 Erv Palica - Final bio line: "Had a 13-8 record..."
195 Erv Palica - Final bio line: "Sent to Baltimore..."
204 Frank Bolling - Back is for Milt Bolling
204 Frank Bolling - Corrected back

Advertising Panels Set Checklist

No card numbers.

Alex Grammas/Vic Raschi/Del Ennis
Billy Pierce/Bob Kuzava/Preacher Roe
Bob Darnell/Early Wynn/Pee Wee Reese
Bob Friend/Willard Nixon/Tom Brewer
Bob Rush/Ray Katt/Willie Mays
Clint Courtney/Bill Tuttle/Wayne Belardi
Del Ennis/Del Crandall/Joe Adcock
Don Bollweg/Cal Abrams/Billy Cox
Fred Baczewski/Bob Lemon/George Strickland
Hank Aaron/Johnny Logan/Eddie Miksis
Mickey Mantle/Steve Gromek/Milt Bolling
Nelson Fox/Carl Furillo/Carl Erskine
Paul LaPalme/Royce Lint/Irv Noren
Russ Kemmerer/Hal Jeffcoat/Dee Fondy
Stan Lopata/Bobby Avila/Al Smith
Steve Gromek/Milt Bolling/Vern Stephens
Whitey Ford/Enos Slaughter/Paul LaPalme