1955 Topps #194 Willie Mays
1955 Topps #194 Willie Mays
Willie Mays in his 51-homer 1955 season (the card reuses his 1954 head shot). A premier high number.
About Willie Mays
Widely regarded as the greatest all-around player in baseball history, Willie Mays was born in 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, and broke in with the Negro American League's Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 before New York Giants scout Eddie Montague signed him in 1950. The center fielder debuted in 1951, winning Rookie of the Year, and starred over 22 seasons with the New York and San Francisco Giants (1951-52, 1954-72) and the New York Mets (1972-73). A 24-time All-Star, he claimed two NL MVP awards (1954 and 1965) and 12 straight Gold Gloves. He anchored the Giants' 1954 World Series champions, remembered for "The Catch," his over-the-shoulder grab of Vic Wertz's drive in Game 1. Mays hit .301 with 3,293 hits, 660 home runs, 1,903 RBI, and 338 stolen bases. Nicknamed "The Say Hey Kid" for his youthful greeting, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979 on the first ballot. This high-number card captures his 1955 season, when he led the league with 51 home runs.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 4,098 | 0 | 14 | 219 | 337 | 621 | 687 | 2,175 | 45 |
| SGC | 1,790 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 51 | 88 | 212 | 1,316 | 99 |
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 Willie Mays card?
It is card #194 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the New York Giants player.
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 Willie Mays valuable?
Value depends on grade and its scarce high-number status, plus the demand for a Hall of Famer. 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.