1954 Topps #220 Ruben Gomez
About Ruben Gomez
A durable right-handed screwball artist from Arroyo, Puerto Rico (1927-2004), Ruben Gomez signed with the Santurce Crabbers in 1947, pitched in the U.S. minors and Quebec, bought his way out of a Yankees contract, and joined the New York Giants in February 1953. He debuted that April and earned All-Rookie honors at 13-11, then broke out in 1954 with a 17-9 record and 2.88 ERA as a rotation regular, helping the Giants win the NL pennant. In that fall's World Series, Gomez started and won Game 3 at Cleveland 6-2 as New York swept the Indians, becoming the first Puerto Rican pitcher to win a World Series game and the first Black Latino to do so. He pitched 10 big-league seasons through 1967 for the Giants, Phillies, Indians, and Twins, finishing 76-86 with a 4.09 ERA and 677 strikeouts, and threw the first MLB game on the West Coast (an 8-0 shutout of the Dodgers in 1958). Nicknamed "El Divino Loco" ("the Divine Madman") for his fearless mound presence and wild off-field driving, he won over 400 games as a pro—174 in his legendary 29-year Puerto Rico Winter League career—and was enshrined in the Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. This 1954 Topps card is his rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 511 | 4 | 14 | 93 | 147 | 133 | 66 | 54 | 0 |
| SGC | 57 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 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 Ruben Gomez card?
It is card #220 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the New York Giants player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1954 Topps Ruben Gomez 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.