1955 Topps #205 Gene Freese
1955 Topps #205 Gene Freese
About Gene Freese
Eugene Lewis "Augie" Freese (1934-2013), a right-handed third baseman from Wheeling, West Virginia, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1953 and reached the majors in 1955. That rookie year the Pittsburgh baseball writers voted him the Pirates' Rookie of the Year over future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, making this 1955 Topps card (his rookie card) a notable one. A well-traveled journeyman, Freese played 12 seasons (1955-1966) for eight clubs across two stints each with Pittsburgh and the Chicago White Sox, plus the Cardinals, Phillies, Reds, and Astros. His finest year came in 1961, when he manned third base for the pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds and set career highs of 26 home runs and 87 RBIs (the very total on this card's back), though he hit just .063 as Cincinnati fell to the Yankees in the World Series. A spring-1962 ankle fracture diminished his career thereafter. He finished with a .254 average, 877 hits, 115 home runs, and 432 RBIs over 1,115 games. Teammates nicknamed him "Augie" after umpire Augie Donatelli during his 1955 debut season. He later settled in New Orleans, running a sports tavern, and was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.
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.
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Bio 9th line: 89 (shown 87).
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 667 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 136 | 181 | 130 | 152 | 4 |
| SGC | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 26 | 2 |
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 Gene Freese card?
It is card #205 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Gene Freese 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.