1954 Topps #145 Elmer Valo
About Elmer Valo
Elmer Valo was a hard-nosed outfielder whose 20-season major-league career (1940-1961) unfolded mostly with the Athletics franchise pictured on this card. Born Imrich Valo in Rybnik, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) on March 5, 1921, he emigrated to Pennsylvania as a boy and was signed by Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics while still a high-school junior in 1939. A left-handed hitter and right fielder, Valo was one of the finest contact hitters of his era, batting .282 with 1,420 hits, 58 home runs, and 601 RBI over 1,806 games while playing for the Philadelphia and Kansas City Athletics, Phillies, Dodgers, Indians, Senators, and Twins. He topped .300 five times, peaking at .364 in 1955, hit for the cycle on August 2, 1950, and became the first player to hit two bases-loaded triples in one game (May 1, 1949). Legendarily fearless, he repeatedly crashed into and through outfield walls chasing fly balls. Late in his career he became a premier pinch-hitter, setting major-league marks in 1960 for pinch-hit appearances and times on base. Never a Hall of Famer, Valo was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 1990.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 518 | 1 | 9 | 119 | 144 | 134 | 70 | 41 | 0 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 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 Elmer Valo card?
It is card #145 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Philadelphia Athletics player.
Is the 1954 Topps Elmer Valo 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.