1954 Topps #135 Joe Presko
About Joe Presko
A Kansas City, Missouri, native, right-handed pitcher Joe Presko was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948 as an amateur free agent and reached the majors on May 3, 1951. Standing just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, he earned the nicknames "Little Joe" and "Baby Face" for his small stature and youthful appearance. Presko's finest campaign was his 1951 rookie year, when he went 7-4 with a 3.45 ERA over 15 games for the Cardinals. He worked mainly as a starter through his four St. Louis seasons (1951-1954), then returned briefly as a reliever with the Detroit Tigers (1957-1958). Over six major-league seasons and 128 games, Presko compiled a 25-37 record with a 4.61 ERA, 202 strikeouts, and 5 saves. He was never selected to an All-Star team. After his playing days, Presko coached American Legion baseball in Kansas City, where he mentored a young David Cone, a future big-league star. He died in 2019 at age 90.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 423 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 112 | 105 | 79 | 49 | 0 |
| SGC | 38 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 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 Joe Presko card?
It is card #135 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player.
Is the 1954 Topps Joe Presko 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.