|
1954 Topps Baseball
Cards
1954 Topps is the first
issue to use two pictures of the player on the front of the card. The
set is widely collected and a favorite of collectors. At 250 cards,
the set is smaller than the previous Topps versions, but well equipped with
Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, and Whitey
Ford. Because Mickey Mantle, Roy Campanella and Pee Wee Reese
possessed exclusive contracts with Bowman, they are not found in this set.
However, there are two Ted Williams cards (the first and last cards of the
set), as well as the rookie cards of Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks,
Al Kaline, and Tommy Lasorda.
|
|
Topps issued its 1954 set to be
sold in wax packs of 1-5 cards. Those cards measure approximately 2 5/8 inches
wide by 3 3/4 inches long. Cards 1-50 were issued on gray cardboard stock in
Canada instead of white; therefore, a true master set should have the 250
regular cards plus the Canadian variations.
No
other variations are known. Interestingly, a white border runs around three
sides of the card, but not along the top. This difference often leads
collectors to believe that many of the cards have been miscut. |
|
Nevertheless, collectors favor
the 1954 Topps set for its classic design. The set was also distinguished by
including both a head and action shot of each player, a feature that is still
used in the design of today’s cards. The set also included cartoons for the
first time, on the card backs. While the 1954 Bowman set was comprised of mostly
dull-colored cards, Topps cards this year were very colorful. Solid color
backgrounds frame both color head-and-shoulders portrait and black and white
action photo of the player. The player's name, position and team logo appear at
the top of the card. A facsimile autograph appears on the front of the card for
the first time since 1952. The backs of 1954 Topps cards include "Inside
Baseball" cartoon regarding the player as well as the requisite statistics and
biography. Unlike most of Topps' pre-1974 issues, a scarce, high-number series
does not appear in this set. |
|
Topps made up for
the small number of top players by including 17 coaches and four managers.
In all, twenty-five players and coaches made their onetime Topps appearances
in this set. Fifty-three others in addition to the four rookies mentioned
made their first appearances on Topps cards in 1954. Interestingly, despite
the fact that 1954 boasted rookie years from future greats Hank Aaron, Ernie
Banks, Al Kaline, and Tommy Lasorda, Bob Grim and Wally Moon reigned as
Rookies of the Year.
The 1954 Topps set also
contains several minor uncorrected error cards. Most notable are: #14
Preacher Roe, who’s card lists “Februray” as his birth month; #19 Johnny
Lipon, who’s card lists him playing for Baltimore on the front and Chicago
on the back; and #178 which shows Bill Glynn on front as “Gylnn.”
|
|
|
In 1994, Topps
introduced a reprint of the original 1954 Topps set named “Topps Archives.”
These cards measure 2 1/2 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches long. They have a
white border all the way around the front of the card. They were printed on
glossy firm paper stock and have a "UV coating." Although this reprint set
contains 256 cards, the set does not contain either Ted Williams card
because Williams was under exclusive contract with Upperdeck at the time.
|
Purchase 1954 Topps Cards Here!
|
