1954 Topps #188 Dave Jolly
About Dave Jolly
A right-handed relief pitcher out of Stony Point, North Carolina, Dave Jolly signed with the St. Louis Browns as an amateur free agent before the 1946 season and spent seven seasons in the minors—bouncing through the Browns, Reds, and Yankees chains—before the Boston Braves selected him in the 1952 Rule 5 draft. He debuted with the Milwaukee Braves on May 9, 1953, and pitched all five of his big-league seasons (1953–1957) in Milwaukee, working almost exclusively out of the bullpen. His career year was 1954, when he went 11–6 with 10 saves and a sparkling 2.43 ERA over 47 games; that summer he made his only major-league start (July 17 vs. Brooklyn) and hit his lone big-league home run, off Curt Simmons. Relying on a slider and a knuckleball he learned from bullpen mate Hoyt Wilhelm, Jolly finished 16–14 with a 3.77 ERA, 19 saves, and 155 strikeouts across 160 games. Teammate Ernie Johnson tagged the quiet, unflappable Jolly with the ironic nickname "Gabby." A member of the 1957 World Series champions (though he did not pitch in the Series), Jolly died of a brain tumor in 1963 at age 38; a ballfield near Stony Point was later named in his honor. This is his 1954 Topps rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 539 | 0 | 11 | 120 | 156 | 123 | 77 | 52 | 0 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 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 Dave Jolly card?
It is card #188 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Milwaukee Braves player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1954 Topps Dave Jolly 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.