1954 Topps #119 Johnny Antonelli
About Johnny Antonelli
A left-handed pitcher and Rochester, New York native (born April 12, 1930), Johnny Antonelli was a three-sport star at Jefferson High School who signed with the Boston Braves as a celebrated "bonus baby" on June 29, 1948, for a reported $50,000-plus — the largest signing bonus in baseball history at the time — and jumped straight to the majors, becoming one of the rare players to complete a career without ever appearing in the minor leagues. After stints with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves (1948-1950, 1953), he was traded to the New York Giants before the 1954 season in the six-player deal that sent Bobby Thomson to Milwaukee. He anchored the Giants' staff (1954-1960, moving with them to San Francisco), pitched for the Braves and Cleveland Indians in 1961, and retired in 1962. His 1954 season was his masterpiece: a 21-7 record with a National League-leading 2.30 ERA and six shutouts, The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year, and a Series that saw him win Game 2 over Early Wynn and save the Game 4 clincher as the Giants swept Cleveland for the championship. A two-time 20-game winner and six-time All-Star, he finished 126-110 with a 3.34 ERA, 25 shutouts, and 1,162 strikeouts. He is not in the Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 628 | 2 | 14 | 114 | 156 | 172 | 87 | 83 | 0 |
| SGC | 81 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 2 |
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 Johnny Antonelli card?
It is card #119 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the New York Giants player.
Is the 1954 Topps Johnny Antonelli 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.