1954 Topps #46 Ken Raffensberger
About Ken Raffensberger
A crafty left-handed control pitcher from York, Pennsylvania, Ken Raffensberger was signed by Cardinals scout Pop Kelchner in 1937 and dominated the low minors (18-6 at Cambridge in the Class D Eastern Shore League) before reaching the majors. Over 15 seasons (1939-1954) he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs, going 119-154 with a 3.60 ERA and 806 strikeouts across 2,151.2 innings. A 1944 National League All-Star, he was credited with the win in that year's game, throwing scoreless ball in the fourth and fifth innings at Pittsburgh. Because he pitched almost entirely for losing clubs, Bill James later ranked him among baseball's ten "unluckiest" pitchers; he twice led the NL in losses (20 in 1944, 17 in 1951) yet also led the league in shutouts in both 1949 and 1952. He tossed four one-hit shutouts, calling his May 22, 1949 gem against Brooklyn "the greatest." Stan Musial nicknamed him "crafty Raffy" for his baffling forkball. This card, from the Redlegs portion of his career, exists with both white and gray backs.
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 | 607 | 0 | 9 | 100 | 157 | 184 | 85 | 72 | 0 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 1 |
PSA by back: White Back 595 · Gray Back 12
SGC by back: White Back 56 · Gray Back 3
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 Ken Raffensberger card?
It is card #46 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Does the 1954 Topps Ken Raffensberger 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 Ken Raffensberger 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.