1954 Topps #219 Charlie Kress
1954 Topps #219 Charlie Kress
About Charlie Kress
Card #219 lists him as "Charlie Kress," but the player is Charles Steven "Chuck" Kress, a left-handed-hitting first baseman born December 9, 1921 in Philadelphia (d. 2014, Colville, WA). After serving three years in the U.S. Army during World War II (1943-45), he reached the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 1947 and appeared in parts of four big-league seasons through 1954, also playing for the Chicago White Sox (1949-50), the Detroit Tigers, and the Brooklyn Dodgers (both 1954). A career reserve, he batted .249 with 116 hits, 20 doubles, 1 home run, and 52 RBI over 175 games; his lone big-league homer came off Detroit's Fred Hutchinson on July 1, 1949. Kress's real professional life was in the bushes, where he played 1,745 minor-league games through 1959 and later managed in the Tigers' and Phillies' farm systems. This 1954 Topps issue, split between his brief Detroit and Brooklyn stints, is his only Topps card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 491 | 0 | 10 | 112 | 146 | 121 | 61 | 41 | 0 |
| SGC | 49 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 0 |
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 Charlie Kress card?
It is card #219 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Detroit Tigers player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1954 Topps Charlie Kress 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.