1955 Topps #36 Leo Kiely
1955 Topps #36 Leo Kiely
About Leo Kiely
A left-handed pitcher from Hoboken, New Jersey, Leo Patrick Kiely (1929-1984) was signed by Red Sox scout Bill McCarren in 1948 and reached Boston in 1951 after an 18-9 season with the Birmingham Barons. Korean War service interrupted his rise; while in the Army in 1953 he pitched for Japan's Mainichi Orions (6-0, 1.80), reportedly among the first major leaguers to play there. Over seven big-league seasons with the Red Sox (1951, 1954-56, 1958-59) and the 1960 Kansas City Athletics, he went 26-27 with a 3.37 ERA, 29 saves, and 212 strikeouts in 209 games. His signature feat came in the minors: for the 1957 San Francisco Seals he finished 21-6, winning 20 games in relief (14 straight) to set two Pacific Coast League records. Nicknamed "Black Cat" for the toy black cat he carried to the bullpen, Kiely died of cancer in 1984 at 54. This 1955 card's back carries an uncorrected stat error.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Card-back note
Uncorrected error on the back: Bio: struck out 156 batters in 1950 (9th line).
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 549 | 0 | 3 | 74 | 163 | 146 | 90 | 73 | 0 |
| SGC | 54 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 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 Leo Kiely card?
It is card #36 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Boston Red Sox player.
Is the 1955 Topps Leo Kiely 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.