1954 Topps #198 Carl Sawatski
About Carl Sawatski
Carl Sawatski was a left-handed-hitting catcher who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies at age 16 in 1944 for a $500 bonus and reached the majors as a Chicago Cub. Over 11 big-league seasons he played for the Cubs (1948, 1950, 1953), White Sox (1954, the team pictured on this 1954 Topps card), Milwaukee Braves (1957-58), Phillies (1958-59), and Cardinals (1960-63), batting .242 with 351 hits, 58 home runs, and 213 RBI in 633 games. A stocky reserve known early as "Butch" and later as "Swish" for the whooshing sound of his power swing, he was a genuine slugger in the minors, leading the 1949 Southern Association with 34 homers for Nashville. He was the third catcher on the Braves' 1957 World Series champions, though his lone Series work was two pinch-hit strikeouts as Milwaukee beat the Yankees in seven games. With the Cardinals he became a feared pinch-hitter. After retiring he was general manager of the Arkansas Travelers and served as Texas League president from 1976 until his death from leukemia in 1991.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 498 | 2 | 5 | 111 | 148 | 126 | 59 | 47 | 0 |
| SGC | 55 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Carl Sawatski card?
It is card #198 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Chicago White Sox player.
Is the 1954 Topps Carl Sawatski 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 2026-07-01.