1954 Topps #163 Frank House
1954 Topps #163 Frank House
About Frank House
Henry Franklin "Pig" House was a left-handed-hitting catcher signed by the Detroit Tigers out of Hueytown High School in 1948 as a celebrated "bonus baby," reportedly for $75,000 and two automobiles, one of the richest amateur deals of the era. He debuted in 1950 and played 10 major-league seasons: with Detroit (1950-51, 1954-57, 1961), the Kansas City Athletics (1958-59), and the Cincinnati Reds (1960). A solid defensive backstop known for a quick release and strong arm, House batted .248 with 47 home runs and 235 RBI across 653 games; his best year came in 1955, when he hit .259 with 15 homers and 53 RBI in 102 games. He was never selected to an All-Star team. His nickname "Pig" traced to childhood, one story holding that as a baby he was called "big as a house" and twisted "big" into "pig." After baseball, House served in the Alabama Legislature and helped create the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1975 (he is not in Cooperstown, consistent with this card carrying no Hall-of-Fame designation).
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 404 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 119 | 92 | 56 | 50 | 2 |
| SGC | 40 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 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 Frank House card?
It is card #163 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Detroit Tigers player.
Is the 1954 Topps Frank House 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.