Manufacturer: Bowman
Set: 1950 Bowman Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Johnny Antonelli
Position/Team: Pitcher for Braves
Card #: 74
Card Size: 2-1/16” x 2-1/2”
Card Value Snapshot: Raw/Ungraded: $12 | Grade 7: $220
⬇️ See More Pricing Data Below
Johnny Joseph Antonelli was one of the premier left-handed starting pitchers of the 1950s and the elite ace who anchored the New York Giants’ pitching staff during their magical mid-decade championship run.
A classic “Bonus Baby” phenomenon, Antonelli entered the major leagues with massive financial expectations resting on his shoulders. While his early career was hindered by military service and limited usage due to the era’s roster rules, his trade to the Polo Grounds in 1954 unlocked his full potential. Combining a blistering fastball with a sharp, sweeping curve and an advanced changeup, Antonelli became a dominant force in the National League and a six-time All-Star.
In 1948, Antonelli became the center of a historic bidding war after a legendary high school career in Rochester, New York. The Boston Braves signed the 18-year-old phenom to a record-breaking $52,000 bonus contract.
Under the “Bonus Baby” rules of the time, teams signing players for large bonuses were forced to keep them on the major league roster for two full seasons rather than letting them develop in the minors. As a result, Antonelli spent his formative professional years sitting on the Braves’ bench, making sporadic relief appearances while veterans like Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain carried the workload. After missing the entire 1951 and 1952 seasons due to military service in the U.S. Army, Antonelli returned to the Braves (now in Milwaukee) in 1953, turning in a strong 12–12 campaign.
Teams Played For: Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1948–1950, 1953), New York/San Francisco Giants (1954–1960), Cleveland Indians (1961), Milwaukee Braves (1961).
Career Totals: 429 games, 126–110 record, 3.34 lifetime ERA, 1,162 strikeouts, and 24 shutouts.
Accolades: 6-time National League All-Star (1954, 1956–1959), 1954 NL ERA Leader, 1954 World Series Champion.
The Westward Move: Alongside Willie Mays, Antonelli was one of the franchise cornerstones who transitioned with the Giants during their historic move from New York to San Francisco in 1958.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
Tracking the current market value for the 1950 Bowman John Antonelli Card #74. Below, find updated pricing data for ungraded (raw) copies, as well as verified PSA graded sales trends collected from secondary marketplaces.
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Raw/Ungraded: $12
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Grade 5: $25
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Grade 6: $80
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Grade 7: $220
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Grade 8: -
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Grade 9: -
Data Updated: July 2026
➡️ See All 1950 Bowman Rookie Card Prices
Pricing data includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
These values are collated from a variety of resources including recently sold listings, sales averages and a variety of other sports card pricing data sources. Please see full disclaimer on “Terms Page” for more information. (Rookiecardprices.com only shows values for regular base set cards. No prices are shown for errors, parallels, subsets, misprints or other cards unless noted.)
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Did You Know? In February 1954, Giants manager Leo Durocher engineered a blockbuster trade, sending star outfielder Bobby Thomson to Milwaukee in exchange for Antonelli. The move instantly transformed the Giants into title contenders, as Antonelli put together a legendary, career-defining season.
Antonelli dominated the National League in 1954, leading the league with a microscopic 2.30 ERA and an elite .750 winning percentage via his 21–7 record. He threw 17 complete games, including an NL-high 6 shutouts.
In the 1954 Fall Classic against Cleveland, Antonelli was brilliant. He pitched a complete-game masterpiece to win Game 2, allowing just one run. Then, in the decisive Game 4, Durocher called on his ace in relief to lock down the championship. Antonelli pitched 1.2 scoreless innings to earn the save, sealing the Giants’ four-game sweep.
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