Ron Santo (1940-2010)

Ron Santo, the ex-third baseman for the Chicago Cubs who later became a beloved broadcaster for the team, passed away at the age of 70. His broadcasting partner, Pat Hughes, shared with the Chicago Tribune that "he truly adored the Cubs." "The Cubs have lost their most devoted supporter."

Santo was a member of the Cubs from 1960 to 1973. A nine-time All-Star, he had an impressive batting record. Over his 15-year career, he hit 277 home runs, accumulating a total of 342 home runs and 1,331 runs batted in. Additionally, he earned five Gold Glove Awards for his exceptional defensive skills. There was never any question that Ron Santo was a true Cub at heart. Many believe he was one of the most deserving players not to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Years later, he finally achieved that honor, thanks in part to the support of Billy Williams.

Ron was known for his infectious smile—just take a glance at his Topps baseball cards; he was a player who truly cherished the game. He also found joy in his role as a radio broadcaster for WGN. His absence will be deeply felt. Rest in peace, Ron. To me and many others, you will always be a Hall of Famer.

Topps Rookie Card

To ensure you don't purchase a counterfeit piece of history, always obtain a professionally graded card from a trusted seller. Graded cards are expected to appreciate significantly in value over time.

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Southsiders needed to join in on the fun as well.

1955 Topps

This year signifies the inaugural use of a horizontal design by Topps, departing from the conventional vertical format. Unlike the 1954 collection, this year's set features full-length action shots and player portraits in vivid colors, resulting in one of Topps' most visually appealing series, complemented by lively backgrounds. Furthermore, 1955 marked the debut of subsets, which included Topps Test Stamps (21 cards) and Topps Double Header (66 cards).

Number of Cards

At 206 cards, this set remains the smallest of the regular Topps issues.

Size of Cards

The horizontal 1955 Topps cards measure the same 3 ¾ by 2 5/8" that was now the standard for the company. This size would last until 1957 when the cards became slightly smaller.

Basic Features

In 1955, Topps revamped their design by introducing a horizontal card format. This new style features a vibrant background, full-body images, and large portraits, creating an appealing collection. The front designs bear resemblance to the 1954 set, incorporating many of the same visuals. Each card showcases colorful team logos and facsimile signatures.

On the reverse side, you'll find biographical details along with single-season and career statistics, applicable to either major or minor leagues. Additionally, cartoon trivia boxes or game-related information enhance the enjoyment of the cards. Due to competition with Bowman, the 1955 Topps baseball card set is incomplete, missing four cards because the original players intended for those slots had signed exclusive agreements with Bowman. The complete set includes 206 baseball cards, numbered from 1 to 210.

Cards not issued are: 175, 186, 203, and 209.

Series:

Series I: 1-160
Series II: 161-210 (scarce)

Rookies:

• 52 Bill Tremel
• 68 Jim Davis
• 179 Jim Bolger
• 196 Gale Wade

DP - Double Print:

(a card that was printed in double the quantity compared to the other cards in the same series)

• 172 Frank Baumholtz DP
• 184 Harry Perkowski DP

To ensure you don't purchase a counterfeit piece of history, always obtain a professionally graded card from a trusted seller. Graded cards are expected to appreciate significantly in value over time.

Chicago Cubs 1955 Topps Checklist

Number		Player
6		Stan Hack MG RC
28		Ernie Banks
45		Hank Sauer
52		Bill Tremel RC
68		Jim Davis RC
76		Howie Pollet
93		Steve Bilko
129		Elvin Tappe
172		Frank Baumholtz DP
179		Jim Bolger RC
184		Harry Perkowski DP
196		Gale Wade RC

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1948-49 Leaf

This set was the first color baseball cards of the post World War II era and consisted of 8 cub players. This is a difficult set to complete, mainly due to the fact thereare many short print cards (the term short print means those particular cards were produced in significantly less numbers then the other) also there is a variation on card 136 (long sleeve or short sleeve).

Cubs SP cards are
33 Peanuts Lowrey SP
48 Johnny Schmitz SP
160 Bob Scheffing SP
168 Phil Cavarretta SP

Cubs Variations cards are
136A Cliff Aberson Long sleeve
136B Cliff Aberson Short sleeve

Rookies cards are
125 Andy Pafko

Chicago Cubs

33-Peanuts Lowrey $600.00


48-Johnny Schmitz $600.00


57-Bob McCall $80.00


77-Roy Smalley $175.00


125-Pafko $175.00


136a-Cliff Aberson long sleeve $85.00


136b-Cliff Aberson short sleeve $85.00


160-Bob Scheffing $600.00


168-Phil Cavarretta $600.00