1954 Topps #19 Johnny Lipon
1954 Topps #19 Johnny Lipon
About Johnny Lipon
Johnny Lipon was a right-handed shortstop signed off the Detroit sandlots by Tigers scout Wish Egan in 1941, after starring in American Legion ball at Chadsey High School. Born November 10, 1922, in Martins Ferry, Ohio, he debuted with Detroit in August 1942 at age 19, then served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II before returning in 1946. Over nine major-league seasons (1942, 1946, 1948-1954) he played for the Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, and Cincinnati Redlegs, batting .259 with 690 hits, 10 home runs, and 266 RBI in 758 games. His finest year was 1950, when he hit .293 and scored 104 runs (second in the AL) as Detroit's leadoff man. Lipon was never an All-Star, but he built a legacy as a manager, running minor-league clubs for three decades, briefly piloting the 1971 Cleveland Indians (18-41), and earning the King of Baseball award in 1992. Fittingly for a well-traveled player, his 1954 Topps card (#19) is a noted oddity that mixes team references.
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.
Team mismatch error
A well-known oddity: the card mixes team references - PSA describes the Orioles name on the front, the White Sox on the back, with Lipon pictured in a Red Sox cap (he had just changed teams). Uncorrected; no premium.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 628 | 1 | 9 | 108 | 173 | 155 | 86 | 96 | 0 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 0 |
PSA by back: White Back 613 · Gray Back 15
SGC by back: White Back 50 · 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Chicago White Sox cards
- Ferris Fain
- Jim Rivera
- Sherm Lollar
- Luis Aloma
- Bob Wilson
- Bob Keegan
- Harry Dorish
- Bob Boyd
- Don Johnson
- Mike Fornieles
- Jack Harshman
- Carl Sawatski
- Al Sima
- Fred Marsh
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Johnny Lipon card?
It is card #19 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Chicago White Sox player.
Does the 1954 Topps Johnny Lipon 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 Johnny Lipon 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.