1955 Topps #45 Hank Sauer
1955 Topps #45 Hank Sauer
About Hank Sauer
Hank Sauer, the slugging left fielder born in 1917 near Pittsburgh, entered pro ball through the Yankees system after a scout spotted him on the sandlots, then reached the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 1941. Over 15 seasons he played for the Reds, Chicago Cubs (1949-1955), St. Louis Cardinals, and New York/San Francisco Giants, retiring with a .266 average, 288 home runs, 876 RBI, and 1,278 hits in 1,399 games. A two-time All-Star (1950, 1952), his signature year came in 1952, when he won the NL MVP at age 35 - leading the majors with 121 RBI and tying Ralph Kiner for the home run lead with 37, and becoming the first player from a second-division club (the fifth-place Cubs) to win the award. Beloved at Wrigley, where fans showered him with tobacco, he was dubbed "the Mayor of Wrigley Field," and also nicknamed "the Honker" for his large nose. This 1955 Topps card - the first Series card with an uncorrected wrong birth year on the back - captures him near the end of his Cubs tenure.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Birth year should be 1917.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 877 | 1 | 12 | 159 | 240 | 213 | 120 | 132 | 0 |
| SGC | 98 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 26 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Chicago Cubs cards
- Stan Hack
- Ernie Banks
- Bill Tremel
- Jim Davis
- Howie Pollet
- Steve Bilko
- Elvin Tappe
- Frank Baumholtz
- Jim Bolger
- Harry Perkowski
- Gale Wade
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1955 Topps Hank Sauer card?
It is card #45 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Chicago Cubs player.
Is the 1955 Topps Hank Sauer 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.