1955 Topps #85 Don Mossi
1955 Topps #85 Don Mossi
About Don Mossi
Signed by the Cleveland Indians out of high school in 1949, left-handed pitcher Don Mossi climbed through the minors before reaching the majors in 1954. He pitched 12 big-league seasons (1954-1965) for the Indians (1954-58), Detroit Tigers (1959-63), Chicago White Sox (1964), and Kansas City Athletics (1965), finishing 101-80 with a 3.43 ERA, 932 strikeouts, and 50 saves in 460 games. As a rookie he anchored Cleveland's bullpen alongside Ray Narleski for the 111-win 1954 pennant winners, going 6-1 with a 1.94 ERA, then threw four scoreless innings across three games in the 1954 World Series, though the Giants swept the Indians. He earned an All-Star selection in 1957 and later became a durable starter in Detroit, going 15-7 in 1961. Nicknamed "Ears" and "The Sphinx" for his prominent ears - Jim Bouton likened him to "a cab going down the street with its doors open" - Mossi became a collector legend when this 1955 Topps rookie (which lists his birth year as 1930, though he was born in 1929) was dubbed one of the "ugliest baseball cards ever." He died in 2019 at age 90.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Birth year should be 1929 (shown 1930).
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 904 | 0 | 8 | 187 | 256 | 236 | 118 | 99 | 0 |
| SGC | 90 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 31 | 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 Don Mossi card?
It is card #85 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Cleveland Indians player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1955 Topps Don Mossi 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.