1954 Topps #236 Paul Penson
About Paul Penson
Paul Eugene Penson was a right-handed pitcher whose entire major-league career consisted of one season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1954, making this 1954 Topps card his only mainstream issue and a true rookie card. Born July 12, 1931, in Kansas City, Kansas, Penson reached the Phillies after a three-year military hitch during which he reportedly won 50 games for his service team, and he made Philadelphia's early-season 28-man roster out of spring training. He debuted on April 21, 1954, and appeared in just five games (three starts) before his final outing on May 30, finishing 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, 3 strikeouts, and 14 walks over 16 innings. His lone big-league win came May 16, 1954, in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals that was suspended under Pennsylvania's blue laws barring Sunday-evening sports and completed the next day. A sore arm derailed him after that; he won only three of 19 decisions in the minors before leaving the game in 1956. Penson died May 3, 2006, in Merriam, Kansas, at age 74.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 426 | 0 | 4 | 65 | 123 | 108 | 82 | 44 | 0 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Paul Penson card?
It is card #236 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Philadelphia Phillies player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1954 Topps Paul Penson 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.