1955 Topps #37 Joe Cunningham
1955 Topps #37 Joe Cunningham
About Joe Cunningham
Signed by the Cardinals in 1949 out of Paterson, New Jersey, Joe Cunningham was a left-handed-hitting first baseman and outfielder who reached St. Louis in 1954 and played 12 major-league seasons (Cardinals 1954, 1956-61; White Sox 1962-64; Senators 1964-66). His debut was unforgettable: on June 29, 1954 at Cincinnati he hit a three-run homer off Art Fowler (card #3 in this set), then homered twice off Warren Spahn the next day. A patient, high-average hitter nicknamed "Smokey Joe" (a tag the press adopted by 1958), he peaked in 1959, batting .345 to finish second to Hank Aaron for the NL batting crown while leading the league in on-base percentage (.453); he was named to both 1959 All-Star Games. After 1961 he was traded to the White Sox for Minnie Minoso. Cunningham retired a .291 career hitter with 980 hits, 64 home runs, and 436 RBI over 1,141 games, later becoming a beloved Cardinals front-office figure. This is his rookie card; the back's minor-league line (a known error) should read that he hit .318 for Rochester in 66 games in '54.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Bio last lines should read "hit .318 for Rochester in 66 games in 54".
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 723 | 1 | 8 | 137 | 196 | 208 | 90 | 83 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 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 Joe Cunningham card?
It is card #37 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the St. Louis Cardinals player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1955 Topps Joe Cunningham 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.