The 1955 Bowman baseball card set was issued during a unique time of transition in the sport. The previous year had seen the beginnings of major league integration as Larry Doby and Hank Aaron made their debuts. Meanwhile, television was bringing baseball into more homes than ever before with Game of the Week broadcasts. The sport was on the verge of entering its golden age.
The 1955 Bowman set captured many of the game’s biggest stars at the height of their careers. The roster included legendary players like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, and Duke Snider. Meanwhile, future Hall of Famers like Richie Ashburn, Bobby Thomson, Roy Campanella, and Warren Spahn were still in their primes. Altogether, there were a total of 172 cards in the 1955 Bowman issue covering all 16 major league teams from that season.
Some of the more memorable cards and notable inclusions on the 1955 Bowman checklist included:
Mickey Mantle (#1): The young Yankee superstar was already a 2-time MVP at this point. His power and speed made him one of the era’s most electrifying players.
Willie Mays (#15): In just his fourth MLB season, Mays was already establishing himself as one of the game’s greatest all-around talents playing centerfield for the Giants.
Ted Williams (#28): The “Splendid Splinter” was nearing the end of his career but was still among the most feared hitters in baseball as evidenced by his 1954 MVP and batting title.
Roy Campanella (#39): The catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers was a 3-time MVP and 8-time All-Star. He would be paralyzed in an automobile accident the following year, ending his career.
Duke Snider (#52): “The Duke of Flatbush” patrolled centerfield at Ebbets Field and was a vital piece of those great Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1950s.
Stan Musial (#63): “Stan the Man” was in his 15th season with the St. Louis Cardinals and still at an All-Star level as one of the game’s finest pure hitters.
Early Wynn (#88): The Cleveland Indians ace posted a 20-9 record with a 3.20 ERA in 1954 and helped lead his club to a league pennant. He would go on to win over 300 games in a Hall of Fame career.
Ted Kluszewski (#100): “Big Klu” slugged 35 home runs for the Cincinnati Reds in 1954, showing why he was one of the great power hitters of the 1950s.
The 1955 Bowman issue also included up-and-coming young stars like Willie McCovey (Giants), Roberto Clemente (Pirates), and Jim Kaat (Phillies) in their rookie cards. Meanwhile, veterans like Schoolboy Rowe, Jimmie Foxx, and Mel Ott received “retired stars” cards, preserving their legacy for collectors.
The design of the 1955 Bowman cards boasted a colorful uniform photograph on the front. Stats like batting average and previous seasons’ stats were listed on the back. What made the 1955 set particularly unique was the inclusion of team cartoons featured on the reverse of many cards. For example, the Brooklyn Dodgers card backs depicted characters like “Pee Wee” Reese and “Daffy” Duke Snider.
In terms of condition, high grade 1955 Bowman cards have become quite valuable today. Top stars like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays in NM-MT 8 condition can fetch thousands of dollars. Even more common players can sell for hundreds in exceptionally well-preserved copies. The combination of star power, design elements, and place in baseball history have made the 1955 Bowman set highly sought after by collectors decades later. It remains one of the most iconic vintage issues featuring many of the game’s all-time greats from when the “Golden Age” was just beginning.
