1954-55 Topps #34 Marty Pavelich
About Marty Pavelich
Sault Ste. Marie's Marty Pavelich came up through the OHA's Galt Red Wings and broke in with Detroit in 1947-48 — and the left winger never wore another NHL sweater, logging ten seasons, 93 goals, and 252 points through 1956-57. The scoring line tells half the story: Pavelich was Detroit's checking specialist, the "shadow" assigned to blanket stars like Maurice "Rocket" Richard, and GM Jack Adams called him "one of the four key men around whom we build our hockey club." The formula delivered four Stanley Cups (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955) and All-Star Game nods in each of those seasons; Stan Fischler later ranked him the fourth-best defensive forward ever. This Topps card, No. 34, is not his rookie — it catches him fresh off the 1954 Cup. Pavelich retired in 1957 rather than accept a minor-league option, running a plastics business with teammate Ted Lindsay, and was the last surviving member of the 1950 Cup Wings when he died in 2024 at 96.
Sources: Wikipedia · Hockey-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 264 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 75 | 83 | 40 | 34 | 0 |
| SGC | 60 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 4 |
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 Detroit Red Wings cards:
- #4 Johnny Wilson
- #5 Red Kelly
- #8 Gordie Howe
- #9 Benny Woit
- #16 Glen Skov
- #27 Marcel Pronovost
- #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 Marty Pavelich card?
It is card #34 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 Marty Pavelich with the Detroit Red Wings.
Is the 1954-55 Topps Marty Pavelich #34 a rookie card?
No. Parkhurst had been making hockey cards since 1951-52, and Marty Pavelich 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 2026-08-23.
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