1954 Topps #231 Roy Smalley
1954 Topps #231 Roy Smalley
About Roy Smalley
Signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1944 at age 17 out of Springfield, Missouri, Roy Smalley Jr. began in the Pacific Coast League with the Los Angeles Angels, served in the Navy during World War II, and reached the majors in 1948. A tall shortstop at 6-foot-3, he spent six seasons with the Cubs (1948-1953) before short stints with the Milwaukee Braves (1954) and Philadelphia Phillies (1955-1958). His 1950 season captured his career's extremes: he hit for the cycle on June 28, set personal bests with 21 home runs and 85 RBI, and led NL shortstops in assists, putouts, and double plays, yet also led the league with 114 strikeouts and 51 errors. Over 11 seasons he batted .227 with 601 hits, 61 home runs, and 305 RBI in 872 games. His erratic throws inspired the mocking Wrigley chant "Miksis to Smalley to Addison Street," and columnist Mike Royko joked he could fling grounders "at the sun." His son, Roy Smalley III, became a 1978 All-Star; his brother-in-law was manager Gene Mauch. This card is a documented error (UER): the back's third line should read "six seasons," matching his Cubs tenure.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 443 | 0 | 5 | 85 | 136 | 101 | 67 | 47 | 2 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 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 Smalley card?
It is card #231 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the Milwaukee Braves player.
Is the 1954 Topps Roy Smalley 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.