1955 Topps All-American #73 Paul Governali
Governali finished second to Frank Sinkwich in voting for the 1942 Heisman Trophy. See the Gallery's page of cards of Heisman candidates .
About Paul Governali
Pitchin' Paul Governali was Columbia's great wartime passer, running coach Lou Little's offense from 1940 to 1942. As a senior he led the nation in passing yardage with 1,442 in nine games, threw 19 touchdown passes, won the 1942 Maxwell Award, and finished second to Frank Sinkwich in the Heisman Trophy voting while earning consensus All-America honors. After serving in the Marines he spent three NFL seasons with the Boston Yanks and New York Giants, throwing 31 touchdown passes. He never strayed far from campus life: Governali earned a doctorate in education at Columbia while helping on Little's staff, then headed west to San Diego State, where he was head football coach from 1956 to 1960 and stayed on as a professor of physical education until his death in 1978. The College Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 1986.
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 | 415 | 0 | 17 | 100 | 103 | 106 | 62 | 27 | 0 |
| SGC | 68 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-23. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded. Uncataloged wrong-back slabs are excluded.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1955 Topps All-American Paul Governali card?
It is card #73 of the 100-card 1955 Topps All-American Football set. It features Paul Governali and Columbia in Topps's college-football tribute issue.
Is Paul Governali in the College Football Hall of Fame?
Yes. Paul Governali 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 2026-08-27.
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