1954 Topps #68 Sammy Calderone
About Sammy Calderone
A defense-first catcher born in Beverly, New Jersey, Samuel Francis Calderone (1926–2006) signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1945 and hit .317, .293, and .316 in the minors before the New York Giants selected him in the 1949 Rule 5 draft. He debuted with the Giants in 1950, then lost 1951–52 to U.S. Army service during the Korean War, stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia, where he was a teammate of pitcher Johnny Antonelli. Back with New York in 1953, he earned a reputation as a steady receiver, notably handling Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball. In February 1954 the Giants dealt Calderone and Bobby Thomson to the Milwaukee Braves in the blockbuster that returned Antonelli, Don Liddle, Ebba St. Claire, Billy Klaus and $50,000. As Milwaukee's third-string catcher in 1954, he batted .379 (11-for-29). Over three big-league seasons he hit .291 with 41 hits, 1 home run and 25 RBI in 91 games. The card lists him as "Sammy"; no formal nickname is documented.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 430 | 0 | 8 | 89 | 115 | 101 | 58 | 56 | 3 |
| SGC | 57 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 16 | 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 Sammy Calderone card?
It is card #68 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 Sammy Calderone 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.