1955 Topps #159 Johnny Schmitz
1955 Topps #159 Johnny Schmitz
About Johnny Schmitz
Signed for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association before the 1938 season, left-hander Johnny Schmitz reached the majors with the Chicago Cubs in September 1941 and pitched 13 big-league seasons through 1956 for the Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Reds, Senators, Red Sox and Orioles. His career was interrupted by U.S. Navy service in World War II (1943-1945) - the span the 1955 Topps back stretches into by counting "17 campaigns." A two-time All-Star (1946 and 1948), Schmitz led the National League in strikeouts in 1946 (135, with a 2.61 ERA) and enjoyed his finest year in 1948, going 18-13 with a 2.64 ERA for the Cubs. Over 366 games he went 93-114 with a 3.55 ERA and 746 strikeouts. Nicknamed "Bear Tracks" for his shuffling walk to the mound and his size-14 feet, the Wausau, Wisconsin native was a durable curveball artist who tossed eight no-hit innings in a 1-0 win in 1949. He died in 2011 at age 90.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
Semi-high (#151-160)
Cards #151-160 sit just under the high numbers and run a notch scarcer than the rest of the low series, though they are not as hard to find as #161-210.
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Bio "17 campaigns" counts seasons including 1943-45 military service.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 633 | 0 | 8 | 125 | 180 | 168 | 96 | 56 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 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 Johnny Schmitz card?
It is card #159 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Washington Senators player.
Is this card harder to find?
Cards #151-160 sit just below the high-number series and run a notch scarcer than the rest of the low numbers.
Is the 1955 Topps Johnny Schmitz 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.