1955 Topps #57 Billy O'Dell
1955 Topps #57 Billy O'Dell
About Billy O'Dell
A left-handed pitcher out of Whitmire, South Carolina, Billy O'Dell signed with the Baltimore Orioles in June 1954 straight from Clemson University as the young franchise's first "bonus baby," going directly to the majors without a day in the minors. Over 13 seasons (1954-1967) he pitched for the Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates, working as both a starter and reliever. A two-time All-Star (1958, 1959), he was named MVP of the 1958 All-Star Game in his home ballpark of Baltimore -- the first player ever given that award -- after retiring all nine National League batters he faced, among them Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks. His best year came in 1962, when he went 19-14 and led the pennant-winning Giants with 195 strikeouts and 20 complete games before they fell to the Yankees in a seven-game World Series. Nicknamed "Digger" after a character in the radio-TV show "The Life of Riley," O'Dell finished 105-100 with a 3.29 ERA, 1,133 strikeouts, and 50 saves. This 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 | 529 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 128 | 169 | 93 | 71 | 0 |
| SGC | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 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 1955 Topps Billy O'Dell card?
It is card #57 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Baltimore Orioles player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1955 Topps Billy O'Dell valuable?
Value depends on grade. 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.