1955 Topps #202 Jim Owens
1955 Topps #202 Jim Owens
About Jim Owens
The Phillies signed right-hander Jim Owens out of Bradford Area High School in Pennsylvania in 1951, and he tore through the minors with 22, 22, and 17 wins from 1952 to 1954, earning International League Rookie of the Year honors at Syracuse and predictions that he would be the "next Robin Roberts." He debuted with Philadelphia in 1955 and pitched 13 big-league seasons (1955-1967) for the Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Colt .45s/Astros. His best year was 1959, when he went 12-12 with a 3.21 ERA, 11 complete games, and 135 strikeouts for a last-place club. Over 286 games he finished 42-68 with a 4.31 ERA and 516 strikeouts. Nicknamed "Bear" for his stocky build and round features, Owens gained lasting notoriety as a member of the hard-drinking "Dalton Gang," exposed in a 1960 Sports Illustrated article alongside Turk Farrell, Jack Meyer, and Seth Morehead. He later served as the Astros' pitching coach. This card #202 is Owens' rookie card and a tougher, high-number Series 2 issue.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
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 | 537 | 0 | 4 | 71 | 118 | 149 | 102 | 91 | 2 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 25 | 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 Jim Owens card?
It is card #202 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Philadelphia Phillies 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 Jim Owens 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.