1955 Topps #11 Ferris Fain
1955 Topps #11 Ferris Fain
About Ferris Fain
Ferris Roy Fain (1921-2001) was a left-handed first baseman who signed with the Pacific Coast League's San Francisco Seals out of Oakland in 1939, served in the Army during World War II, and reached the majors after Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics acquired him via the Rule 5 draft before the 1947 season. Over nine seasons he played for the Athletics (1947-1952), Chicago White Sox (1953-1954), and both the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians in 1955. A five-time consecutive All-Star (1950-1954), Fain won back-to-back American League batting titles, hitting .344 in 1951 and .327 in 1952 (also leading the AL in doubles and on-base percentage in 1952). He was among the game's premier defensive first basemen, setting a record with 194 double plays turned in 1949; Hall of Famer Joe Gordon called him the greatest fielding first baseman he ever saw. Nicknamed "Burrhead" and "Cocky," the hot-tempered Fain reportedly broke his hand in a 1952 bar fight yet still captured that year's batting crown. He retired a career .290 hitter with 1,139 hits, 48 home runs, 570 RBI, and a .424 on-base percentage that still ranks among the highest in history. He is not in the Hall of Fame. This 1955 Topps card, from his lone Detroit season, is noted for an error: the back lists an incorrect birth year (it should read 1921).
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Birth year should be 1921.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 536 | 0 | 8 | 67 | 133 | 148 | 100 | 80 | 0 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 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 Ferris Fain card?
It is card #11 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Detroit Tigers player.
Is the 1955 Topps Ferris Fain 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.