1954 Topps #55 Phil Cavarretta
1954 Topps #55 Phil Cavarretta
About Phil Cavarretta
A Chicago native, Phil Cavarretta (1916-2010) signed with his hometown Cubs straight out of Lane Tech High School, homering in his 1934 major-league debut at Wrigley Field at age 18. The left-handed-hitting first baseman (and sometime outfielder) spent 20 of his 22 big-league seasons with the Cubs before finishing with the crosstown White Sox in 1954-55. A four-time All-Star (1944-1947), he peaked in 1945, winning the National League MVP and batting title with a .355 average, driving in a career-high 97 runs and leading the league in on-base percentage while carrying the Cubs to the pennant. He appeared in three World Series (1935, 1938, 1945), hitting .317 across them, though the Cubs lost all three. Nicknamed "Philibuck" by manager Charlie Grimm for his hard-nosed play, Cavarretta batted .293 with 1,977 hits, 95 home runs and 920 RBI. He became the Cubs' player-manager in mid-1951 — the reason this 1954 card labels him a manager — but Philip Wrigley famously fired him in spring training on March 29, 1954, making him the first skipper dismissed during the preseason.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 427 | 0 | 10 | 74 | 86 | 107 | 76 | 74 | 0 |
| SGC | 54 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 0 |
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 Cubs cards
- Hank Sauer
- Paul Minner
- Johnny Klippstein
- Frank Baumholtz
- Jim Willis
- Bob Scheffing
- Howie Pollet
- Ernie Banks
- Bob Talbot
- Ray Blades
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Phil Cavarretta card?
It is card #55 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Chicago Cubs manager.
Is the 1954 Topps Phil Cavarretta 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.