1955 Topps #90 Karl Spooner
1955 Topps #90 Karl Spooner
About Karl Spooner
Signed by Brooklyn Dodgers scout Greg Mulleavy in 1950 out of upstate New York, left-handed pitcher Karl Spooner authored one of the most electric debuts in baseball history. After a 21-win, 262-strikeout 1954 season with the Texas League's Fort Worth Cats, he was called up that September and, on the 22nd, shut out the pennant-bound New York Giants 3-0 while striking out 15 - a major-league record for a debut. Four days later he blanked Pittsburgh 1-0 with 12 more strikeouts, giving him 27 across two games. But in 1955 spring training he hurt his arm throwing without warming up, and his mid-90s fastball was never the same. He went 10-6 with a 3.09 ERA and 105 strikeouts over 31 games in his two big-league seasons (1954-1955), then was shelled in Game 6 of the 1955 World Series before Brooklyn won its only title in Game 7. Nicknamed "King Karl" by teammates for his confidence, he retired after failed comeback attempts and died in 1984; Oriskany Falls, NY, named its Little League field for him in 2002. This is his rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 858 | 0 | 14 | 169 | 248 | 215 | 108 | 103 | 1 |
| SGC | 108 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 30 | 18 | 25 | 2 |
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 Karl Spooner card?
It is card #90 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Brooklyn Dodgers player, and is his rookie card.
Is the 1955 Topps Karl Spooner 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.