1955 Topps #173 Bob Kline
1955 Topps #173 Bob Kline
About Bob Kline
Bobby Kline (John Robert Kline, 1929-2021) was a shortstop out of St. Petersburg, Florida, who signed his first professional contract in 1947 straight out of high school and spent a dozen years in the minors, most of it in the New York Yankees system he joined by 1950. Named the Double-A Southern Association's All-Star shortstop in 1954, he was drafted by the Washington Senators from Toronto in that winter's Rule 5 draft, which forced him onto the 1955 roster and produced his only big-league season. Kline debuted memorably on April 11, 1955, starting at shortstop in Washington's annual Presidential Opener at Griffith Stadium before President Eisenhower; he went hitless in two at-bats against Baltimore's Lou Kretlow and was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Over 77 games he batted .221 with 31 hits, five doubles, no home runs and nine RBI, then was dealt back to the Yankees in a February 1956 six-player trade and finished out his career in the minors before retiring in 1959. His 1955 Topps card (#173) is a Series 2 high number and his lone, and rookie, big-league card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number (#161-210)
Series 2 (#161-210) shipped in the fall against the new football-card season, so retailers cut their orders and far fewer were printed. As a result the set's biggest high-number names - Roberto Clemente (RC), Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider - are tougher than low-number stars such as Williams, Robinson and Aaron.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 683 | 0 | 7 | 126 | 204 | 174 | 104 | 67 | 1 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 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 1955 Topps Bob Kline card?
It is card #173 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Washington Senators player, and is his rookie card.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1955 Topps high-number series (#161-210), which shipped in the fall against the new football cards, so far fewer were printed - the scarcest run in the set.
Is the 1955 Topps Bob Kline valuable?
Value depends on grade and its scarce high-number status. 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.