1954 Topps #117 Solly Hemus
1954 Topps #117 Solly Hemus
About Solly Hemus
Solomon Joseph "Solly" Hemus, born April 17, 1923, in Phoenix and raised in San Diego, was a scrappy 5-foot-9 infielder who entered the St. Louis Cardinals farm system in 1946, hitting .363 at Class-C Pocatello before a Navy WWII stint and steady climb. He reached the majors in 1949 and played 11 seasons (1949-1959) at shortstop and second base for the Cardinals (1949-56, 1959) and Philadelphia Phillies (1956-58), batting .273 with 736 hits, 51 home runs, and 263 RBI over 961 games. A pesky leadoff man, his best year came in 1952: a .392 on-base percentage, 105 runs, and 15 homers under Eddie Stanky. Sportswriter Bob Broeg dubbed him "Mighty Mouse" for his small stature and fight; famously fearless at the plate, he led the National League in being hit by pitches three times. After writing owner Gussie Busch an admiring letter, Hemus returned to St. Louis as player-manager (1959-1961), guiding the club to a third-place finish in 1960, though his tenure is now remembered largely for his poor treatment of Bob Gibson and Curt Flood. He later coached the Mets and Indians and died in 2017 at 94. Card #117 is not a rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 463 | 0 | 10 | 105 | 108 | 110 | 64 | 66 | 0 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 1 |
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 Solly Hemus card?
It is card #117 of 250 in the 1954 Topps set, issued at the peak of the Topps-Bowman 'Card Wars'. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player.
Is the 1954 Topps Solly Hemus 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.