1955 Topps #196 Gale Wade
1955 Topps #196 Gale Wade
About Gale Wade
Galeard Lee "Gale" Wade (January 20, 1929 - January 16, 2022) was a left-handed-hitting center fielder who signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization as an amateur free agent, turning down college football scholarships to pursue baseball. A blazing base-stealer, he swiped 344 bases over 15 minor-league seasons while batting .280 with 1,442 hits, and led multiple circuits in steals; Venezuelan winter-league fans dubbed him "Galgo" (Spanish for greyhound) for his speed. After a standout 1955 minor-league campaign (.292, 20 HR, 67 RBI, 67 SB), Wade reached the majors with the Chicago Cubs, appearing in parts of the 1955 and 1956 seasons and starting on both Opening Days. In 19 big-league games he hit .133 (6-for-45) with one home run, one RBI, and a double. This card #196 is Wade's only Topps rookie card and a scarcer second-series high number. After baseball he spent over 25 years at Rutherford Electric Cooperative and served on the McDowell County (NC) School Board.
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 | 571 | 0 | 6 | 75 | 165 | 140 | 90 | 95 | 0 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 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 Gale Wade card?
It is card #196 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Chicago Cubs 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 Gale Wade 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.