1954-55 Topps #30 Frank Martin
About Frank Martin
A towering 6-foot-2 defenceman from Cayuga, Ontario, Frank Martin captained the St. Catharines Teepees in 1951-52 and became the first product of that city's minor-hockey system to reach the NHL. Called up from AHL Hershey when Boston's Bob Armstrong went down in 1952-53, he stuck for a full 68-game Bruins season in 1953-54, then was dealt to Chicago for Murray Costello — which is why this card, not a rookie, catches him in his first season as a Black Hawk. Martin skated in the NHL All-Star Game during that 1954-55 campaign and patrolled Chicago's blue line through 1957-58, closing his NHL ledger at 282 games and 57 points. Writers of the day marveled that he was the league's only ambidextrous shooter besides Gordie Howe, and that he had turned down a pitching contract from the Brooklyn Dodgers to chase hockey. AHL stops in Buffalo, Quebec, and Cleveland carried him through 1964-65, after which he went home to St. Catharines to work and coach.
Sources: Wikipedia · Hockey-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 250 | 0 | 3 | 48 | 59 | 70 | 47 | 22 | 1 |
| SGC | 49 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-20. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Related cards
More Chicago Black Hawks cards:
- #1 Dick Gamble
- #12 Bucky Hollingworth
- #13 Ray Timgren
- #17 Gus Mortson
- #20 Bill Gadsby
- #21 Jerry Toppazzini
- #24 Metro Prystai
- #26 Al Rollins
- #28 Lou Jankowski
- #33 Pete Conacher
- #40 Larry Wilson
- #42 Red Sullivan
- #43 Jack McIntyre
- #54 Bill Mosienko
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954-55 Topps Frank Martin card?
It is card #30 of the 1954-55 Topps Hockey set - Topps's first hockey issue, 60 cards at the larger 2-5/8 by 3-3/4 inch pre-1957 size. It pictures Frank Martin with the Chicago Black Hawks.
Is the 1954-55 Topps Frank Martin #30 a rookie card?
No. Parkhurst had been making hockey cards since 1951-52, and Frank Martin has an earlier Parkhurst card, so this one is not his rookie card.
How many cards are in the 1954-55 Topps Hockey set?
60 cards - 15 each for the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers, interleaved through the numbering. Topps's first hockey set covered the four US-based NHL clubs; Parkhurst continued to cover all six teams. Topps's next hockey set came in 1957-58.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Cardboard Connection, hockeydb, the Hockey Hall of Fame roll call, Hockey-Reference, and the 1951-55 Parkhurst checklists, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.
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