1954 Topps #24 Granny Hamner
About Granny Hamner
Granville Wilbur "Granny" Hamner (1927-1993) was a Richmond, Virginia native who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies during World War II and debuted at just 17 on September 14, 1944 - so young that his mother had to sign his contract for him. In 1945 he became the youngest player ever to start on Opening Day, a record that still stands. A shortstop and second baseman, he spent essentially his entire career (1944-1959) with the Phillies before finishing with the Cleveland Indians (1959) and Kansas City Athletics (1962). Named team captain in 1952, Hamner was a three-time All-Star (1952-1954) and the National League's starting shortstop in the 1952 All-Star Game at his home Shibe Park. He anchored the 1950 "Whiz Kids" pennant winners and, though the Yankees swept that World Series, batted a scorching .429 (6-for-14) with three extra-base hits. He hit .262 with 1,529 hits, 104 home runs, and 708 RBI over 17 seasons, and even pitched briefly late in his career. The nickname "Granny" came from his given name Granville - though he disliked it and preferred "Ham." He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (1981) and the Phillies Wall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 1 (cards 1-50)
Every card in the first series exists with the standard white/cream back (United States) and a scarcer gray back printed for the Canadian market. The grays were printed in Canada on a darker, gray cardstock and distributed in Canadian nickel packs; they exist for cards 1-50 only and carry a small-to-moderate premium. This is the genuine 'Canadian' issue from which the 1952 Topps gray-back 'Canadian' myth mistakenly borrowed its name.
- White Back: Standard United States issue. White/cream card stock - the common back for cards 1-50.
- Gray Back — scarcer: The Canadian printing. Printed in Canada on a visibly gray/darker cardstock and distributed in Canadian packs; exists for the first series (#1-50) only. Scarcer than the white back and carries a premium - modest on commons, meaningful on the stars (Williams, Robinson, Spahn, Snider, Ford, Berra, etc.). Tell: the back stock is uniformly gray - not to be confused with edge-toning on a white back.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 673 | 0 | 10 | 152 | 173 | 163 | 78 | 97 | 0 |
| SGC | 74 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 0 |
PSA by back: White Back 658 · Gray Back 15
SGC by back: White Back 73 · Gray Back 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 Granny Hamner card?
It is card #24 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Philadelphia Phillies player.
Does the 1954 Topps Granny Hamner have back variations?
Yes. Every card in the first series exists with the standard white/cream back (United States) and a scarcer gray back printed for the Canadian market. The grays were printed in Canada on a darker, gray cardstock and distributed in Canadian nickel packs; they exist for cards 1-50 only and carry a small-to-moderate premium. This is the genuine 'Canadian' issue from which the 1952 Topps gray-back 'Canadian' myth mistakenly borrowed its name.
Is the 1954 Topps Granny Hamner 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.