1954-55 Topps #44 Ivan Irwin
His first mainstream card, and a Topps exclusive - no Parkhurst card through 1954-55.
About Ivan Irwin
A Chicago-born, Toronto-raised defenseman who didn't take up hockey until he was 16, Ivan Irwin bashed his way up through Boston, Sherbrooke, and Cincinnati before debuting with Montreal for four games in 1952-53. Dealt to New York in August 1953 for Eddie Slowinski and Pete Babando, he became a blueline regular on Broadway, playing 151 of his 155 NHL games as a Ranger through 1957-58 and piling up 214 penalty minutes against just 29 points. Rangers press agent Herb Goren dubbed the tall, balding bodychecker "Ivan the Terrible," and it stuck — this was a man who squared off with Rocket Richard and once fought his own defense partner, Lou Fontinato, in practice. He later earned back-to-back AHL First Team All-Star honors with Providence in 1958 and 1959 and stayed a beloved NHL Oldtimers fixture until his death in 2019 at 91. Card #44 is his rookie card, and a Topps exclusive — Parkhurst never issued him through 1954-55.
Sources: Wikipedia · Hockey-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 222 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 69 | 62 | 29 | 21 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-20. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
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Related cards
More New York Rangers cards:
- #2 Bob Chrystal
- #3 Harry Howell
- #10 Gump Worsley
- #11 Andy Bathgate
- #14 Jack Evans
- #15 Paul Ronty
- #22 Wally Hergesheimer
- #23 Danny Lewicki
- #29 Nick Mickoski
- #32 Camille Henry
- #41 Allan Stanley
- #53 Don Raleigh
- #55 Larry Popein
- #56 Edgar Laprade
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954-55 Topps Ivan Irwin card?
It is card #44 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 Ivan Irwin with the New York Rangers.
Is the 1954-55 Topps Ivan Irwin #44 a rookie card?
Yes. Ivan Irwin has no card in any Parkhurst issue through 1954-55, making this Topps card his first mainstream card - a Topps exclusive.
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 2026-08-23.
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