1955 Topps #106 Frank Sullivan
1955 Topps #106 Frank Sullivan
About Frank Sullivan
Signed by Red Sox scout Jack Corbett off American Legion ball in 1948 and delayed by two years of Army service in the Korean War (he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and was discharged a staff sergeant), Frank Sullivan reached the majors with Boston in 1953. The towering right-hander pitched 11 seasons (1953-1963) for the Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Minnesota Twins, going 97-100 with a 3.60 ERA and 959 strikeouts. A two-time All-Star (1955-1956), he peaked in 1955, when his 18 wins tied for the American League lead (with Whitey Ford and Bob Lemon) while he paced the AL in starts and innings pitched (260) with a 2.91 ERA. Standing roughly 6-foot-6, he was nicknamed the "Boston Skyscraper" as one of the tallest pitchers of his era. He surrendered Stan Musial's walk-off home run in the 12th inning of the 1955 All-Star Game and later posed for Norman Rockwell's 1957 Saturday Evening Post cover "The Rookie." Elected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008, this 1955 Topps issue is Sullivan's rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Background print-dot
Some copies show a prominent print dot in the background. It is frequently noted by collectors, but the major guides (Beckett, TCDB) do not catalog it as a value-affecting variation.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 507 | 0 | 4 | 66 | 116 | 156 | 92 | 73 | 0 |
| SGC | 45 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 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 Frank Sullivan card?
It is card #106 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Boston Red Sox player, and is his rookie card.
Does the 1955 Topps Frank Sullivan have a variation?
Background print-dot: Some copies show a prominent print dot in the background. It is frequently noted by collectors, but the major guides (Beckett, TCDB) do not catalog it as a value-affecting variation.
Is the 1955 Topps Frank Sullivan 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.