1955 Topps #129 Elvin Tappe
1955 Topps #129 Elvin Tappe
About Elvin Tappe
Elvin Walter "El" Tappe was a light-hitting but defensively gifted right-handed catcher who spent his entire major-league career with the Chicago Cubs. Born May 21, 1927, in Quincy, Illinois, he starred alongside his twin brother Melvin at Quincy High School, served in the Navy, and signed with the Class C Henderson Oilers in 1947 before the Cubs drafted him out of the Yankees' chain in 1951. He debuted April 24, 1954, and appeared in 145 games over parts of six seasons (1954-1962), batting .207 with 63 hits, 17 RBI, and no home runs. Never a hitter, Tappe was prized as a receiver and pitch-caller; Angels skipper Bob Scheffing said that if he could have hit even .230 he'd rank with Dickey and Cochrane. His lasting fame is off the field: in December 1960 he proposed the rotating-coach idea that owner P.K. Wrigley turned into the notorious "College of Coaches," and Tappe himself served as head coach in 1961 (42-54). His 1955 Topps card (#129) carries an uncorrected back error listing the wrong birth year; his correct year is 1927. He later managed in the minors, scouted, and ran a Quincy sporting-goods store, and died there in 1998.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Birth year should be 1927.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 760 | 0 | 14 | 168 | 236 | 183 | 94 | 65 | 0 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 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 Elvin Tappe card?
It is card #129 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Chicago Cubs player.
Is the 1955 Topps Elvin Tappe 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.