1954 Topps #161 John Hetki
About John Hetki
Johnny Hetki, listed on this Pittsburgh Pirates card as "John Hetki," was a right-handed relief pitcher born May 12, 1922, in Leavenworth, Kansas. He entered pro ball at 18 in 1941 with the minor-league Albuquerque Cardinals (16-10) and signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization, whose progress was interrupted by two years of World War II military service. Debuting September 14, 1945, Hetki pitched all or parts of eight big-league seasons through 1954 for the Reds (1945-48, 1950), St. Louis Browns (1952), and Pirates (1953-54). Working mostly out of the bullpen, he went 18-26 with a 4.39 ERA, 13 saves, and 175 strikeouts over 214 games and 525.1 innings; his best year was 1946 (6-6, 2.99 ERA in 32 games). In his final 1954 season he led the National League with 46 games finished. He also set a winter-league mark, throwing all 18 innings of a tie game for Venezuela's Navegantes del Magallanes in 1952. Hetki died January 10, 2019, at age 96.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 394 | 0 | 6 | 81 | 102 | 107 | 61 | 37 | 0 |
| SGC | 37 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Live auctions Buy It Now Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Pittsburgh Pirates cards
- Paul Smith
- Vic Janowicz
- Dick Groat
- Preston Ward
- Fred Haney
- Dick Cole
- Roy Face
- Hal Rice
- Cal Hogue
- Johnny & Eddie O'Brien
- Gair Allie
- Bob Purkey
- John Fitzpatrick
- Gene Hermanski
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps John Hetki card?
It is card #161 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Is the 1954 Topps John Hetki 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.