1955 Topps All-American #8 George Cafego
Finished seventh in the 1938 Heisman Trophy vote and fourth in 1939.
About George Cafego
George Cafego came out of West Virginia's coal country to run the single wing as Tennessee's tailback from 1937 to 1939, where he was known simply as Bad News. He ran, passed, punted, and returned kicks, piling up 2,139 yards of total offense and averaging 6.1 yards a carry as the Volunteers rolled through unbeaten regular seasons in 1938 and 1939, with the 1938 team finishing off Oklahoma 17-0 in the Orange Bowl. General Robert Neyland liked to say his star was a practice bum who became an All-American on Saturday: Cafego earned first-team All-America honors in 1938, consensus honors in 1939, and Heisman Trophy consideration both autumns. The Chicago Cardinals made him the first overall pick of the 1940 NFL draft, and he played through 1945 around Army service in World War II. Cafego then returned to Knoxville and served thirty years as a Tennessee assistant coach, from 1955 to 1984. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.
Sources: Wikipedia · College Football Hall of Fame · Football reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 370 | 0 | 8 | 80 | 102 | 87 | 50 | 43 | 0 |
| SGC | 54 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-23. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Uncataloged wrong-back slabs are excluded.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1955 Topps All-American George Cafego card?
It is card #8 of the 100-card 1955 Topps All-American Football set. It features George Cafego and Tennessee in Topps's college-football tribute issue.
Is George Cafego in the College Football Hall of Fame?
Yes. George Cafego is represented among the set's College Football Hall of Fame subjects.
How many cards are in the 1955 Topps All-American Football set?
The public checklist has 100 numbered cards. The optional 102-item Master adds the second cataloged biography-back state for #14 Gaynell Tinsley and #21 Byron R. White. Alleged short prints are not encoded.
Sources: PSA Basic Registry, PSA Master Registry, Trading Card Database, Vintage Football Card Gallery, and Cardboard Connection, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-25.
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