1955 Topps #12 Jake Thies
1955 Topps #12 Jake Thies
About Jake Thies
Vernon Arthur "Jake" Thies (April 1, 1926 - February 10, 2013) was a right-handed pitcher born in St. Louis, Missouri. After serving with the 117th Infantry in World War II and spending a year at the University of Illinois, he climbed through the minors, headlined by a dominant 1949 season with Chanute of the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League, where he led the circuit with 18 wins (18-6, 2.57 ERA) and four shutouts - the very campaign referenced on this card's back. Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thies reached the majors in 1954, going 3-9 as a workhorse starter and tossing a three-hit shutout of the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium on August 13, 1954. He appeared in just one more game in 1955, finishing his big-league career 3-10 with a 3.90 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 34 games. This is his rookie card; the back carries an uncorrected error, listing his birth year incorrectly (it should read 1926). After baseball he worked in sales for more than four decades.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Birth year should be 1926; won 18 games at Chanute in 1949.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 692 | 0 | 12 | 150 | 188 | 172 | 110 | 60 | 0 |
| SGC | 64 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 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 Jake Thies card?
It is card #12 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1955 Topps Jake Thies 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.