1954 Topps #202 Bob Purkey
About Bob Purkey
Bob Purkey was a right-handed knuckleball pitcher signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1948, working through their farm system (throwing a no-hitter in Class D) before reaching the majors. He pitched 13 seasons (1954-1966) for the Pirates (1954-57 and 1966), Cincinnati Reds (1958-64), and St. Louis Cardinals (1965), finishing 129-115 with a 3.79 ERA, 793 strikeouts, and 13 shutouts over 386 appearances. A four-time All-Star, Purkey enjoyed his finest year in 1962, going 23-5 with a 2.81 ERA (third-best in the NL) and finishing third in Cy Young voting. He anchored Cincinnati's 1961 pennant winners, tossing a complete game in Game 3 of the World Series against the Yankees but losing 3-2 on solo homers by Roger Maris and Johnny Blanchard. Reportedly praised by Roberto Clemente as one of the toughest pitchers he faced, Purkey was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1974. This 1954 Topps card is his rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 481 | 0 | 11 | 97 | 145 | 118 | 63 | 47 | 0 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Bob Purkey card?
It is card #202 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1954 Topps Bob Purkey valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.