1954-55 Topps #8 Gordie Howe
The key card of the set and one of the defining cards of 1950s hockey: Gordie Howe, mid-dynasty in Detroit, in Topps’ very first hockey issue.
About Gordie Howe
Eight seasons into terrorizing the NHL when this card hit packs, Gordie Howe needs no rookie-card asterisk — #8 catches "Mr. Hockey" mid-dynasty. Nicknamed for his standing as the most complete player the game has ever seen, the Saskatoon product signed with Detroit at 16 and debuted at right wing in 1946, scoring in his first game. Riding the famed Production Line with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay, he ripped off four straight Art Ross Trophies from 1950-51 through 1953-54 en route to six scoring titles, six Hart Trophies, and four Stanley Cups (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955) — the last sealed by his 20-point romp through the 1955 playoffs. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 after his first retirement, Howe then skated six WHA seasons beside sons Mark and Marty before retiring for good in 1980 at 52, holding then-records of 801 NHL goals and 1,850 points — and his name on hockey's most famous hat trick: a goal, an assist, and a fight.
Sources: Wikipedia · Hockey-Reference · Hockey Hall of Fame
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 906 | 0 | 4 | 55 | 104 | 143 | 130 | 443 | 27 |
| SGC | 290 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 44 | 144 | 45 |
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 Detroit Red Wings cards:
- #4 Johnny Wilson
- #5 Red Kelly
- #9 Benny Woit
- #16 Glen Skov
- #27 Marcel Pronovost
- #34 Marty Pavelich
- #39 Alex Delvecchio
- #45 Tony Leswick
- #46 Bob Goldham
- #51 Ted Lindsay
- #52 Dutch Reibel
- #57 Bill Dineen
- #58 Terry Sawchuk
- #59 Marcel Bonin
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954-55 Topps Gordie Howe card?
It is card #8 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 Gordie Howe with the Detroit Red Wings.
Is the 1954-55 Topps Gordie Howe the key card of the set?
Yes - #8 Gordie Howe is the key card of the set and one of the defining hockey cards of the 1950s, issued mid-dynasty in Detroit. It is not his rookie card: that is his 1951-52 Parkhurst #66.
Is Gordie Howe in the Hockey Hall of Fame?
Yes - Gordie Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. Sixteen of the set's 60 cards picture Hall of Famers.
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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