Hi everyone, it’s Matt from Graded Card Investor. Today, I’ll be diving into the most valuable and top-selling 1955 Topps baseball cards. These cards are PSA graded and authenticated, and their pristine condition significantly boosts their value compared to ungraded ones.
1955 Topps Baseball Overview:
The 1955 Topps Baseball set contains 206 cards, each 2-5/8″ by 3-3/4″, making it Topps’ smallest set. Originally planned for 210 cards, numbers 175, 186, 203, and 209 were never produced.
- This set was the first to use a horizontal layout throughout, featuring each player in both a portrait and an action shot, alongside a team logo. The set is noted for its concentration of 1950s baseball stars like Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Jackie Robinson in the “Low Numbers,” and Yogi Berra and Willie Mays in the “High Numbers” (cards 161 to 210).
- Notable rookies include: Roberto Clemente, Harmon Killebrew, and Sandy Koufax.
- The set lacks players like Mickey Mantle due to other contracts. The “High Numbers” and cards 151-160 are scarcer, partly due to competing with football card releases.
Keep in mind, not every card has a mint PSA 9 example sold recently, so I’ll also be discussing PSA 8 sales. Make sure to note the grades as we go through them.
Without any further ado, let’s jump into this list!
1955 Topps Yogi Berra #198
- Grade: PSA 8
- Auction House: Memory Lane, Inc.
- Sale Date: September 2023
- Sale Price: $4,140
➡️ Check the Price of this Yogi Berra ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Yogi Berra Baseball Card #198
- Supply: PSA has graded 2,436 of the 1955 Topps Yogi Berra cards with none grading gem mint 10, 12 mint 9, 96 NM-Mt 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 8 Value:
- PSA 7 Value:
🔥 Yogi Berra Baseball Card List – Top 20 Best & Most Valuable
1955 Topps Duke Snider #210
- Grade: PSA 8
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: November 2023
- Sale Price: $5,400
➡️ Check the Price of this Duke Snider ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Duke Snider Baseball Card #210
- Supply: PSA has graded 2,400 of the 1955 Topps Duke Snider cards with none grading gem mint 10, 2 mint 9, 74 NM-Mt 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 8 Value:
- PSA 7 Value:
Overview: The final card in the 1955 Topps baseball set features Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who played a pivotal role in their championship win against the New York Yankees. Snider had an outstanding season, batting .309 with 42 homers, and leading the league with 136 RBIs and 126 runs.
His performance contributed to five consecutive seasons (1953-1957) of hitting 40 or more home runs, leading to his Hall of Fame induction in 1980.
A fan favorite for his likability, Snider’s card is the most challenging to find in mint condition in the 1955 Topps set, often plagued by poor centering and print defects.
1955 Topps Eddie Mathews #155
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: September 2023
- Sale Price: $5,520
➡️ Check the Price of this Eddie Mathews ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Eddie Mathews Baseball Card #155
- Supply: PSA has graded 2,378 of the 1955 Topps Eddie Mathews cards with none grading gem mint 10, 25 mint 9, 222 NM-Mt 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1955 Topps Warren Spahn #31
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: September 2020
- Sale Price: $6,100
➡️ Check the Price of this Warren Spahn ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Warren Spahn #31
- Supply: PSA has graded 2,577 of the 1955 Topps Warren Spahn cards with none grading gem mint 10, 6 Mint 9, 88 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 8.5 Value:
🔥 Top 25 Most Valuable Warren Spahn Baseball Cards to Buy Now
1955 Topps Ernie Banks #28
- Grade: PSA
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: May 2021
- Sale Price: $8,100
➡️ Check the Price of this Ernie Banks ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Ernie Banks #28
- Supply: PSA has graded 4,148 of the 1955 Topps Ernie Banks cards with none grading gem mint 10, 18 Mint 9, 174 NM-MT 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold by Heritage Auctions in May 2021 for $8,100
- PSA 8 Value:
- PSA 8 sold on eBay in December 2023 for $2,626
Overview: Ernie Banks joined the Chicago Cubs in 1953 as their first African-American player. A power-hitting shortstop, Banks had a standout season in 1955, hitting 44 homers and batting .295.
He won the NL MVP in 1958 and 1959, and received a Gold Glove in 1960. Banks, a Hall of Famer and 14-time All-Star, played 19 seasons with the Cubs, leading the NL twice in homers and RBI.
1955 Topps Willie Mays #194
- Grade: PSA 8
- Auction House: Memory Lane, Inc.
- Sale Date: September 2023
- Sale Price: $9,116
➡️ Check the Price of this Willie Mays ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Willie Mays #194
- Supply: PSA has graded 3,438 of the 1955 Topps Willie Mays cards with none grading gem mint 10, 13 Mint 9, 135 NM-MT 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 8 Value:
- PSA 7 Value:
1955 Topps Al Kaline #4
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: January 2022
- Sale Price: $10,500
➡️ Check the Price of this Al Kaline ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps al Kaline #4
- Supply: PSA has graded 3,699 of the 1955 Topps Al Kaline cards with none grading gem mint 10, 17 Mint 9, 223 NM-MT 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1955 Topps Hank Aaron #47
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: May 2023
- Sale Price: $38,400
➡️ Check the Price of this Hank Aaron ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Hank Aaron #47
- Supply: PSA has graded 6,739 of the 1955 Topps Hank Aaron cards with none grading gem mint 10, 28 Mint 9, 280 NM-MT 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 8 Value:
1955 Topps Ted Williams #2
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Memory Lane, Inc.
- Sale Date: September 2022
- Sale Price: $71,530
➡️ Check the Price of this Ted Williams ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Ted Williams Baseball Card #2
- Supply: PSA has graded 5822 of the 1955 Topps Ted Williams cards with none grading gem mint 10, 11 mint 9, 120 NM-Mt 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 8 Value:
1955 Topps Jackie Robinson #50
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Memory Lane, Inc.
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $72,198
➡️ Check the Price of this Jackie Robinson ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Jackie Robinson Baseball Card #50
- Supply: PSA has graded 6,520 of the 1955 Topps Jackie Robinson cards with 1 grading gem mint 10, 24 mint 9, 210 NM-Mt 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 8 Value:
1955 Topps Harmon Killebrew RC #124
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $22,800
➡️ Check the Price the Harmon Killebrew RC on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Harmon Killebrew Rookie Card #124
- Supply: PSA has graded 6,696 of the 1955 Topps Harmon Killebrew rookie cards with 1 grading gem mint 10, 20 Mint 9, 259 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 8 Value:
Overview: While Harmon Killebrew may not be as famous as Koufax and Clemente, remember that he was an early member of the prestigious 500 Home Run Club. His rookie card in the set is visually appealing, but often faces issues like poor centering and print defects, especially noticeable on the bright yellow background around his images.
1955 Topps Sandy Koufax RC #123
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: November 2022
- Sale Price: $396,000
➡️ Check the Price the Harmon Killebrew RC on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax Rookie Card #123
- Supply: PSA has graded 10,487 of the 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie cards with 3 grading gem mint 10, 25 mint 9, 243 NM-MT 8, with the remaining grading NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 8 Value:
Overview: The 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie card is his most valuable and coveted baseball card among collectors. While easier to find in high grade than the Clemente rookie, it’s a key card in the set.
The Koufax rookie faces condition issues like poor centering and print defects, particularly visible against its light-colored background.
1955 Topps Roberto Clemente RC #164
- Grade: PSA 9
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: September 2022
- Sale Price: $1,050,000
➡️ Check the Price of this Roberto Clemente ’55 Topps Card on eBay
Market Analysis: 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie Card #164
- Supply: PSA has graded 6,781 of the 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie cards with 1 grading gem mint 10, 11 mint 9, 123 NM-Mt 8, and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold by PWCC Auctions in September 2022 for $1,050,000
- PSA 8 Value:
Overview: The 1955 Topps rookie card of Roberto Clemente is highly sought after by collectors and investors alike. This card is a highlight of what many consider one of Topps’ finest sets.
The Clemente rookie is particularly valued for its rarity in high grades, being harder to find in near-mint to mint condition compared to the Koufax card. While there are rarer Clemente cards, none matches the demand of his official rookie card.
Heritage Auctions sold one of the 11 PSA 9s at auction in September 2022 for a record-setting $1,050,000. Making the Clemente rookie card the most valuable card from the 1955 Topps baseball card set.
Conclusion
When evaluating 1955 Topps baseball cards, it’s essential to assess their condition first to determine their value. Near-mint-to-mint and mint condition cards command high prices due to their rarity in pristine state.
For collectors looking to add these cards to their collection, consider PSA 7 or 6 grades as they are more affordable. Those on a tighter budget might opt for PSA 2 or 3 cards, which are available at significantly lower prices.
Always do your research, invest only what you can afford to lose, and stay alert for counterfeit cards. Don’t forget to check back for updates, and feel free to comment below with your thoughts on which 1955 Topps baseball cards deserve a spot on this list. Thanks for tuning in, and happy collecting!
From a young age, Matt dove deep into sports card valuation, turning to esteemed price guides like Beckett and Tuff Stuff. Eventually he extended to Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With a vision to sustain and nurture the hobby he loved, Matt established the ‘Graded Card Investor’ YouTube channel and website. He aims to foster a healthy community and offer invaluable insights to those entering the world of sports cards and TCGs. His depth of understanding, from the card market’s 2020 pinnacle to its 1990s valleys, is consistently fortified by meticulous research.
