1954 Topps #87 Roy Face
About Roy Face
Elroy Leon "Roy" Face, born February 20, 1928, in Stephentown, New York, was the game's premier relief pitcher and a forkball master who spent virtually his entire 16-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Signed by the Phillies in 1949, the diminutive right-hander was twice claimed in the Rule 5 draft by Branch Rickey—first for Brooklyn, then for Pittsburgh—and debuted with the Pirates on April 16, 1953. Sent to New Orleans in 1954 to develop an off-speed pitch, he perfected the forkball and returned to anchor the Bucs' bullpen from 1955 to 1968. A six-time All-Star, Face authored one of baseball's most astonishing seasons in 1959, going 18-1 (.947) in relief, and helped Pittsburgh win the 1960 World Series, saving Games One, Four, and Five. Nicknamed "The Baron of the Bullpen," he finished 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA, 193 saves, and 877 strikeouts over 848 games. This card predates his 1959 heroics, capturing him as a young Pirate.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 527 | 0 | 8 | 96 | 131 | 133 | 84 | 75 | 0 |
| SGC | 79 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 11 | 24 | 19 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1954 Topps Roy Face card?
It is card #87 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Is the 1954 Topps Roy Face 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.