1955 Topps Baseball Card # 27 Billy Gardner RC - New York Giants (EX)

1950-1959 Baseball Cards

Other decades may have produced more valuable cards, but 1950s baseball cards are arguably the most iconic and sought-after vintage cards in the entire hobby. At times, they seemed more like art than simply sports cards. Vivid colors and beautiful images filled checklists with names that now populate Cooperstown. As the country moved on after World War II, this would become the Renaissance period for baseball cards. A dominant figure throughout much of baseball card history, Topps released their first baseball product in 1951 and would not look back. While the later years of the 1950s and beyond were owned by Topps, they got a serious fight from Bowman in the early 1950s.

Although there are many great options from this decade, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, and 1954 Topps have separated themselves from the pack. Top rookie card offering from this decade include Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Matthews, and Bob Gibson.

1955 Topps Baseball Cards

Featuring key rookie cards for Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax, 1955 Topps Baseball is also popular for its horizontal card design.

1955 Topps Baseball Card Product Details

Featuring a new layout and some noteworthy rookie card options, 1955 Topps Baseball has aged well. In addition to a good amount of Hall of Fame subjects, the '55 Topps set is the place to find key rookie cards for Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax.

The 1955 Topps Baseball release consists of 206 cards, making it the second-smallest Topps baseball card set ever produced behind 1951 Topps. Measuring in at 3-3/4" by 2-5/8", 1955 Topps was the first horizontally-oriented sports design to be released by the card maker. The change was well received by collectors, as it was apparent that the orientation allowed for bigger player photos and the uncluttered inclusion of other key details.

1955 Topps Baseball cards feature both a player profile photo and an action shot of each player on the card's front. The dual image, first used the previous year, proved to be so popular that Topps went a stop further by colorizing the action photo as compared to the black-and-white version it utilized in 1954. Also taking up real estate on the card front is the team logo, facsimile signature and a colored bar across the bottom which highlights the player's name, position and team.

The card's reverse provides detailed biographical and statistical information about the player. One-panel cartoons returned in 1955 Topps Baseball, this time in the form of a trivia question related to the team or player. Finally, each card back includes a short paragraph regarding the player's contribution to the team the previous season.

What 1955 Topps Baseball lacks in overall checklist size, it makes up for in quality. The main attractions include rookie cards for Hall of Fame legends Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente and Harmon Killebrew. As was the case with the 1954 Topps set, Bowman's exclusive contracts with Mickey Mantle and Roy Campanella prevented their appearance in the 1955 release as well.

Fortunately enough, there are still plenty of big names in 1955 Topps Baseball, including Hank Aaron, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson and Eddie Mathews. It is important to note the four cards originally intended for inclusion were ultimately left out. The players later were revealed to be Stan Musial (#175), Whitey Ford (#186), Bob Feller (#203) and Herb Score (#209). This explains why there are gaps in the 210-card set, and, as a result, four cards were double printed.

1955 Topps Baseball is largely free of variations. Frank Sullivan (#103) can be found with and without a large red dot over dotting the "i" in his signature. Similarly, Wally Moon (#67) is also available with or without a dot over the "e" in his signature. Neither sees any added premium. While the variation count is low, there are quite a few uncorrected errors in the set, including the wrong birthday for Hank Aaron.

When it comes to scarcity, the 1955 Topps Baseball high numbers (#161-210) are by far the most challenging to find in high grade. Many vintage collectors and set registry participants say that of all the 1950's Topps releases, these cards are the most difficult to find in NM-MT condition. It should also be pointed out that cards #151-160 are considered near equally scarce, making cards for Willie Mays, Yogi Berra and Duke Snider generally more scarce than those of Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson or Hank Aaron.

Beyond the pack-issued cards, there are also rare panels issued as salesman samples. The three-card panels are found with advertising info for 1955 Topps Baseball or 1955 Topps Double Header.

How We Grade:

Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. 

Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. 

Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. 

Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks.

Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. 

Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. 

Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. 

Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. 

We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund.

Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.

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