Tag Archives: 1956

1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS PRICE LIST

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set was the third series of sports cards issued by Topps. Some notable rookie cards that debuted in the 1956 set include future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Don Drysdale, and Juan Marichal. The 1956 Topps baseball cards are considered one of the most desirable vintage sets. Let’s take a deeper look at the set and provide a price guide for the top cards.

The 1956 Topps set contains a total of 397 cards and features all 16 major league teams from that season. Some key facts about the design and production of the 1956 Topps cards:

The cards utilize a vertical format as opposed to the landscape style used in previous years. This would become the standard format going forward.

Player photos are quite small, around 1″ tall, with a drab gray or blue background. This was reportedly due to photo quality issues faced by Topps at the time.

The front of the card contains the team name and player’s last name in small print at the top, with his first name and position listed larger at the bottom.

Statistics printed on the back are fairly basic, just listing the previous season’s batting average, home runs, RBI, along with career totals.

The cards were printed on a thin, low quality cardboard stock which led to durability issues over the years. This has decreased surviving population numbers.

Now let’s examine some of the top rookies and keys cards from the 1956 Topps set and provide estimated grade and price ranges:

#312 Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Considered the finest and most valuable card in the set. In PSA 10 condition, this card has sold for over $100,000. Even well-centered, sharp examples in PSA 8 can sell for $5,000-$8,000.

#206 Don Drysdale (Brooklyn Dodgers) – Drysdale’s iconic rookie card. PSA 10’s have reached $35,000. Expect to pay $2,000-$4,000 for a PSA 8 copy.

#86 Juan Marichal (Boston Braves) – One of the most iconic rookie cards in the hobby. PSA 10’s eclipse $20,000 with PSA 8’s in the $3,000 area.

#151 Frank Robinson (Cincinnati Redlegs) – Robinson won the 1955 ROY but this was considered his true rookie card due to no previous cards. PSA 10 has sold for $18,000, with PSA 8 at roughly $2,500.

#75 Rip Repulski (Chicago White Sox) – Low print line on the back makes this a key error card. Extremely rare in high grade. PSA 8 has sold for over $10,000.

#87 Billy Pierce (Chicago White Sox) – Another tough White Sox card, the condition sensitive Pierce. PSA 8’s still reach $2,000.

There are several all-time star players that appear prominently in the 1956 Topps set that can still command big numbers even in lower grades:

#1 Mickey Mantle (NY Yankees) – No matter the condition, it’s The Mick. PSA 5 has sold for $1,500.

#25 Willie Mays (NY Giants) – Iconic Say Hey pose. A worn PSA 3 brought nearly $1,000 recently.

#343 Hank Aaron (Milwaukee Braves) – Pre-home run chase Aaron. PSA 5 values near $1,000.

#249 Warren Spahn (Milwaukee Braves) -Legendary lefty. Spahn in a PSA 5 went for $800 last year.

While lower print runs and condition issues make high graded 1956 Topps baseball cards extremely valuable, there is still value to be found in this classic vintage set even for consumer grade copies. Factors like iconic rookie cards, scarce error cards, and all-time legends ensure the 1956 Topps cards maintain popularity with collectors decades after they were first printed. With condition sensitive cards and so many memorable players, the 1956 Topps set remains one of the most followed vintage issues in the hobby.

1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS WHITE BACK

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set is historically significant as it was the first year Topps used white cardboard stock for the backs of their baseball cards instead of the previous color design. The switch to white backs was likely done to save on production costs. The 1956 set features 336 total cards including career stats and biographies of players from the American and National Leagues on the front with a plain white background on the reverse.

Some key things to know about the 1956 Topps baseball card set with white backs include:

Design & Production: The fronts of the 1956 cards kept the same basic vertical format Topps had been using since 1951 featuring a color photo of the player along with vital stats and team information below. The backs now had a simple blank white design rather than the colorful graphics, stats, and advertisements of prior years. This standardized white stock helped streamline the mass production process.

Size & Quality: The 1956 cards continued using the standard size of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches that Topps had adopted in 1951. Photo and print quality was generally good across the set compared to some early Topps issues. The thinner white cardboard was more prone to chipping and wear over time compared to heavier stock used in earlier color back sets.

Rookies & Stars: Future Hall of Famers featured include Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Richie Ashburn, Duke Snider, Robin Roberts, Warren Spahn, and Roy Campanella. Key rookie cards include future stars Jim Bunning, Don Drysdale, Bob Friend, and Luis Aparicio. Several star players like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Ted Williams are featured multiple times in the set with action photos.

Short Prints & Variations: The 1956 Topps set included several short print and variation cards. For example, the Frank Baumholtz card is one of the most scarce in the set with only a handful known to exist. Select cards like Minnie Minoso and Del Ennis exist with photo or stat variations compared to the base design.

Condition Issues: As the first year of the white back design, many 1956 Topps cards that have survived over 65+ years now exhibit creasing, edging wear, discoloration or staining on the backs compared to the fronts which held up better protected by the photograph. Mint condition examples graded high by services like PSA or BVG are quite scarce.

Total Cards: The 356 card checklist included 312 major league player cards and 24 manager or headshot cards. Additional non-player inserts included the “Baseball Thrills” factual write-ups and a “Topps Chewing Gum” advertising panel not considered part of the base set.

The 1956 Topps baseball card set stand outs as a historically transitional issue that introduced the simplified white cardboard back design that became the Topps standard for decades. While the condition tends to be rougher than earlier color back sets due to the thinner stock, the 1956s remain popular with collectors for featuring a who’s who of stars from the mid-1950s on colorful early action photography on the fronts. With key rookie cards, variations, and scarce short prints, it provides challenges for both set builders and investors seeking investment grade gems. After 65+ years the 1956 Topps white backs still captivate collectors with their nostalgic brand identity and place in baseball card history.

MICKEY MANTLE BASEBALL CARDS 1956

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Mickey Mantle is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The decade of the 1950s was Mantle’s prime and one of the most exciting eras in baseball history. With that historical context in mind, Mickey Mantle’s rookie and early career baseball cards from 1956 hold a special significance for collectors and fans.

The 1956 Topps baseball card set featured six different Mantle cards that showed his rapid rise to stardom for the New York Yankees. Mantle’s rookie card from 1952 is one of the most valuable cards in the hobby, but his early career cards from 1956 document a pivotal time when he started to emerge as a true superstar.

Mantle’s rookie season in 1951 saw him batted .267 with 13 home runs in just 397 at-bats as he split time between the outfield and first base. While impressive numbers for a rookie, it was still just a preview of what was to come for the switch-hitting slugger from Oklahoma. By 1956, Mantle was entering his athletic prime and cementing his place as the heir to Yankee greats like Joe DiMaggio and Joe McCarthy.

The 1956 Topps set captured Mantle’s continued improvement and emergence as a true five-tool superstar. Card #67 shows Mantle batting left-handed with an action shot. The back touts his stats from 1955 when he batted .305 with 27 home runs and 95 RBIs. Those numbers established Mantle as one of the game’s premier power hitters at just 24 years old.

Card #99 shifts to a right-handed batting pose of Mantle with his distinctive batting stance. It highlights his MVP performance from 1954 when he led the American League with a .353 batting average while smashing 42 homers and driving in 130 runs. Winning the MVP at just 22 made Mantle the youngest player ever to take home the hardware at that point.

Card #164 moves to an in-action shot of Mantle in centerfield making a running catch. It notes his continued excellence from 1955, and also mentions his Gold Glove award won that season for his stellar defense. Those abilities showed Mantle becoming a true five-tool player capable of dominating all aspects of the game.

Card #310 breaks from action shots to show Mantle posing for a close-up headshot. His intense facial expression and dramatic lighting made for a compelling sports portrait. The back provides career stats through 1955 that highlighted his fearsome power with 68 career home runs at just 25 years old.

Card #332 continues the headshot trend with another portrait of Mantle, this time with a less intense expression. The stats on the back dive deeper into his offensive production, noting career totals of 163 runs scored, a .308 batting average, and 302 hits through the 1955 season.

The final Mantle card is #352, which goes back to an action shot as he tracks a deep fly ball. It celebrates his excellent defense that was a key part of the Yankees success. The stats recap another stellar season in 1956 where he batted .353 with 52 home runs and a league-leading 130 RBIs to claim his second MVP award.

All told, the six Mantle cards from the 1956 Topps issue provide a fascinating snapshot of one of the game’s all-time great players entering his prime years. They document Mantle’s rise to superstardom for the mighty Yankees and capture how he established himself as the face of baseball in the 1950s. Beyond stats and visuals, the cards also resonate historically by commemorating one of the golden eras of America’s pastime. For collectors and fans invested in baseball history, Mickey Mantle’s 1956 Topps cards hold immense cultural and nostalgic significance. Nearly 70 years later, they remain some of the most iconic and desirable vintage cards in the entire hobby.

TOPPS 1956 BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set was a pioneer in the baseball cards collecting hobby. Issued in 1956 by Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., the set featured black and white photos and basic player stats on each card’s front, with some unique advertisements and cartoons on the back. Unlike many previous baseball card releases that focused primarily on gum promotion, the 1956 Topps set introduced more baseball-centric visual designs and information. It helped popularize baseball cards as collectibles, rather than just disposable promotional items included with chewing gum.

The 1956 Topps set contained 520 total cards and highlighted players from all 16 major league teams of the time. Some notable rookies featured included future Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Don Drysdale, among others. The set also included “managers” cards profiling legendary skippers like Casey Stengel and Al Lopez. Topps marked another first by including All-Star cards highlighting the league’s top players from the 1955 midsummer classic.

In terms of design and production value, the 1956 Topps cards represented a step above previous baseball card releases on the market. Cards utilized a bold red-and-yellow color scheme, with team logos prominently displayed at the top of each card front. Player photos were centered front and center, rather than smaller off-center images seen on prior cards. Statistics focused on the 1955 season and included each player’s batting average, home runs, runs batted in (RBIs), along with team and position.

On the card backs, Topps moved away from heavy promotions for the company’s various chewing gum products. While still leaving room for advertising, more real estate focused on baseball trivia, facts, and cartoons relevant to players and teams. Ads highlighted other Topps product lines like Ring Pops, Bubble Gum cigars, and Bazooka bubble gum sticks. Of note, the card backs contained no direct mentions of the gum itself, showing Topps’ evolving strategy to position the cards more as collectibles independent of the confectionary.

The quality and care put into the 1956 design, along with the hobby’s continued growth in popularity, made the set highly popular and collectible upon release. It has since become one of the key “vintage” releases sought after by enthusiasts and investors. Factors like the inclusion of many future Hall of Famers in rookie cards added luster. In top-graded “mint” condition, scarce and coveted cards like the Hank Aaron rookie have sold at auction for over half a million dollars.

Overall production numbers for the 1956 Topps set are unknown, as archival company records are incomplete from that era. The cards are still widely available today, having survived in sufficient quantities to satisfy hobby demand even at escalated secondary market prices. Relative to other 1950s releases, the 1956 Topps baseball cards are among the most accessible and affordable classic vintage issues to collect in high grades.

While no longer included with chewing gum, the cards themselves have become a sweet collectible prize. Their importance in documenting players and teams of the mid-1950s era, as well as their role in sparking baseball cards as a true collecting phenomenon, ensure the 1956 Topps set maintains a defining place in hobby history. Over 60 years after production, they continue to inspire appreciation and competition among collectors worldwide seeking to build complete rainbow sets, or simply enjoy these beautiful early representatives from the golden age of Topps baseball cards.

EBAY 1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set was the third series of baseball cards produced by Topps and is considered one of the most iconic vintage issues in the hobby. With an original print run estimated between 4-6 million sets, the 1956 Topps cards are still widely available on the secondary market today through online auction sites like eBay. High grade and key rookie cards from the set still command strong prices due to their historical significance and the popularity of the players featured.

Some key details about the 1956 Topps set that collectors and eBay buyers should know include that it contains a total of 520 cards issued in wax wrappers. The set includes all 16 major league teams from that season with 33 cards dedicated to team sets. There are also cards featuring the All-Star teams from 1955 and 1956 as well as manager and umpire cards. Rosters are generally complete except for a few missing players who either retired after 1955 or debuted in 1956 after the set was produced.

Design-wise, the 1956 Topps cards have a distinctive red-centered look with a team logo at the top and player stats/career highlights on the back. The photos show the players in action shots wearing uniforms from the 1955 season. The cards have a thick, high-quality cardboard stock that has stood the test of time remarkably well considering they are now over 65 years old. This durability means high grade specimens regularly surface on eBay auctions even today.

Some of the most significant rookie cards found in the 1956 Topps set that generate strong eBay prices include Hall of Famers Don Drysdale, Roberto Clemente, and Jim Bunning. Other notable rookies like Hank Aaron and Billy Pierce also debuted in this set. Given they were among the earliest issues of these all-time great players, their 1956 Topps rookie cards are considered true gems by vintage collectors. Even in low grades, these rookies can sell for hundreds on eBay. But mint condition examples often trade for thousands or even tens of thousands.

In addition to the star rookies, other 1956 Topps singles that command top eBay prices include the Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays cards. As two of the most iconic players of the 1950s, their 1956 Topps issues are always in high demand. Another popular card is the Harvey Haddix card, which depicts the left-hander on the mound during his incredible 12-inning perfect game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959 against the Milwaukee Braves. The back of the card details this remarkable feat.

For collectors looking to build a complete 1956 Topps set, finding all 520 cards in higher grades can prove challenging and require a sizeable budget. On eBay, intact sets in Excellent to Mint condition have sold for $10,000 or more depending on factors like centering, corners and eye appeal. Partial or lower grade sets can still be acquired for just a few thousand dollars with patience and diligence searching eBay auctions. Shrewd collectors may also find value in assembling subsets of just the star rookies or their favorite teams’ cards.

The 1956 Topps baseball card set remains one of the most iconic issues from the early years of the hobby. Key rookie stars, action shots of all-time greats and the set’s classic design have ensured it stays a priority for vintage collectors. While individual Topps cards from 1956 can be purchased affordably with eBay browsing, acquiring a high quality complete set requires a serious financial commitment. For enthusiasts of 1950s baseball cards and the players they featured, this Topps release is truly a treasure trove that will retain its appeal for generations to come.

LIST OF 1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set was the fifth series of baseball cards produced by Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. Following the precedent set by their previous releases in 1951-55, the 1956 set consisted of 311 cards featuring players and team checklists from that year. Several key details distinguish the 1956 issue from Topps’ prior annual card releases:

At 311 total cards, it was the largest Topps set to date and would remain their high water mark in terms of cards per series until 1961. Each player’s card displayed a black-and-white photo with the player’s name and team printed in yellow block letters above. The year, “TOPPS”, and player stats were arranged below the image. Backs featured career stats and a brief bio. Gum wrappers were replaced by pink cardboard backs as the premium for purchasing a pack.

1956 also marked the debut of rookie cards for several future Hall of Famers, including Luis Aparicio, Don Drysdale, and Nellie Fox. Other notable rookies included Ron Kline, Harvey Kuenn, Ted Wieand, and Johnny Kucks. The cards of these first-year players would appreciate greatly in value among collectors in later decades.

The set is also renowned for including players who were in the twilight of their careers in 1956 such as Phil Rizzuto, Billy Herman, and Mickey Vernon. As a result, the 1956 Topps set provides a snapshot of both baseball’s past and emerging future stars. Unfortunately, the cards of past stars like Mel Ott, Jackie Robinson, and Joe DiMaggio were not part of the 1956 issue.

Much like their predecessors, the 1956 Topps cards featured team checklists that served essentially as placeholders for players not included individually in the set. This was necessitated by the fact that teams routinely carried more players than could be accommodated by the size of each annual release. The checklists ensured fans still had a card representing their favorite club.

In terms of production techniques, 1956 Topps baseball marked the first set fully produced through photo offset lithography. Previously, Topps used a combination of lithography and direct printing methods. The switch to offset allowed for higher and more consistent print quality across the entire run. Gum was also upgraded to stickier, better flavored pellet gum compared to earlier paraffin or wax-based versions.

Overall condition of 1956 Topps cards is generally better than early 1950s sets thanks to the superior manufacturing and higher card stock paper. The vintage 60+ years has predictably taken its toll. Top rated PSA Gem Mint 10 examples in 1956 are exceedingly rare and valuable, with the Nellie Fox rookie among the most coveted. But overall the set still provides a very collectible mid-1950s snapshot at reasonable prices compared to predecessors.

In the decades since their original release, the historical and nostalgic appeal of the 1956 Topps set has resonated strongly with collectors. Along with showcasing stars of the time and famous rookies, the cards embody the mid-century aesthetics that defined 1950s America. They remain a core part of the hobby’s foundation and essential for builders of complete vintage Topps sets. Whether appreciating their connection to baseball’s past or striving to reunite cards from this pioneering production run, the 1956 issue continues engaging collectors some 66 years later.

SET 1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set was the fifth series of cards released by Topps. It marked several milestones, as it was the first Topps set featuring more than one player per card and it was the first to feature all teams in the Major Leagues at the time.

The 1956 set contains a total of 132 cards and features designs that were a significant departure from previous Topps issues. They introduced a three-player format that saw each card showcasing headshots of three ballplayers. This was the first of many multi-player designs Topps would utilize in the ensuing decades.

Each card also included statistics and biographical information for the players displayed. Space limitations forced the stats shown to be somewhat abbreviated. Only batting average, home runs, and runs batted in from the previous season were included.

Topps also debuted team logos for each club which were featured prominently on the fronts of cards. This was an upgrade from just listing the team names textually. The logos helped collectors easily identify which players belonged to which Major League franchises.

Notable rookies included in the set were future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, and Jim Bunning. Aaron’s record-breaking career was just beginning as he hit .280 with 13 home runs for the Milwaukee Braves in his rookie season of 1954. Clemente made his debut in 1955 and hit .255 with 1 home run for the Pirates as a 21-year old. Bunning’s card recognized his impressive rookie season of 1955 where he went 13-8 with a 3.26 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 1956 Topps set was also remarkable because it was the first to feature all 16 Major League teams, including the recently added teams of the Milwaukee Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Including cards for teams like the Kansas City Athletics helped bring recognition to smaller market clubs.

The 1956 issue saw players showcased not just from the American and National Leagues, but it also included Minor League stars for the first time. This provided exposure for top prospects and minor leaguers who had excelled at lower levels of professional baseball.

One of the most well-known and valuable cards from the 1956 Topps set is the Mickey Mantle card. Mantle, already a 2-time American League MVP, is depicted in Yankee pinstripes alongside Whitey Ford and Elston Howard. The condition of Mantle’s rookie card from 1952 also makes it extremely valuable, routinely fetching 6-figure sums when graded high. But even well-kept copies of his ’56 card can sell for thousands due to his iconic status.

While the designs of the 1956 cards were basic by today’s standards, they paved the way for Topps to expand the sizes of their sets and start including more statistical data and images in later releases. The 1956 issue brought baseball card collecting to an even wider audience by displaying players from all franchises during a golden age of the sport. Legacy cards like Mantle’s only added to the set’s place in the hobby’s history books. Even 65 years later, the 1956 Topps cards remain a popular and historically significant release for collectors to pursue.

The 1956 Topps baseball card set marked several “firsts” that changed the direction of the entire baseball card industry. By switching to a multi-player format, including entire MLB rosters, and debuting team logos, Topps set production standards that still influence modern card designs. Rookie cards of Hall of Famers like Aaron and Clemente also gained significance due to their appearance in this pioneering issue. The 1956 set demonstrated Topps’ innovation and leadership in the fledgling sports card market.

MOST VALUABLE TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS 1956

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic in the sports card industry. It featured all 16 major league teams from that season and included rookie cards of several future hall of famers, making many of the cards extremely valuable today. With the hobby of collecting baseball cards really exploding in popularity during the late 1980s and 1990s, mint condition 1956 Topps cards started demanding high prices at auction. Below we take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and significant 1956 Topps cards that still bring in big money for collectors over 60 years later.

Perhaps the single most valuable card from the entire 1956 set is the Mickey Mantle #311. Mantle was already a 3-timeAll-Star and 2-time World Series champion by 1956, but was still early in his MVP caliber career with the New York Yankees. His rookie card came in 1952 so the ’56 was one of the better Mantle cards available at the time for children to collect. With his film star good looks, switch hitting prowess at the plate, and five tool abilities in centerfield, Mantle quickly became a fan favorite across America. This massive popularity combined with his eventual Hall of Fame enshrinement has made ungraded mint condition ’56 Mantles sell for over $250,000 at Goldin Auctions over the past decade, withNear Mint graded PSA 8 copies going for $150,000-$200,000. Even well centered PSA 6’s still demand over $50,000 today.

Another iconic Yankee on the ’56 set is #257 Whitey Ford. As Mantle’s crafty left-handed batterymate, Ford went on to become the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and helped the team dominate the late 50s. Ford’s pinpoint control and overall pitching dominance make his rookie card highly sought after as well. PSA 8 examples have cracked $50,000 in auction, with PSA 6 versions in the $15,000- $20,000 range showing Ford’s great name recognition still holds value.

Staying within the American League, #157 Ted Williams is considered a true “holy grail” card for Boston Red Sox collectors. Nicknamed “The Splendid Splinter,” Williams batted an unthinkable .406 in 1941 and bashed over 500 home runs for his career despite missing time serving in WWII and the Korean War. The last major leaguer to hit .400, Williams was the first living player inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In PSA 8-10 condition, scarce Williams ‘56’s have reached $50,000-$100,000 due to his iconic status in Beantown. Even heavily played non-graded examples sell in the multiple thousands.

Shifting to the National League, the #73 Sandy Koufax rookie card from the Dodgers holds legendary scarcity. Koufax didn’t emerge as a true star until later in his career, but collectors recognized his potential very early on and snatched up his cards. An arm issue limited Koufax to only nine MLB seasons, but in that short span he struck out over 2,500 batters and won three Cy Young awards and one MVP. Extremely tough to find in high grade today, ungraded Koufax rookies can sell for $15,000-$20,000, with PSA 8’s topping $100,000.

Other 1950s rookie sensations like #490 Hank Aaron (#490), #312 Willie Mays (#312), and #1 Roberto Clemente (#1) all rank among the most valuable commons in the set as well due to there superstar careers. In PSA 8-10 condition, each of these cards would bring at least $25,000 at auction. Aaron’s consistent power and quiet dignified accomplishments allowed him to break Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record and earn widespread respect. Mays’ acrobatic catches, laser arm, and gap-to-gap power made him arguably the most exciting player of any era. Clemente was the first Latin American player to reach the 3,000 hit milestone and died in a plane crash at age 38 attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, cementing his humanitarian legacy.

Other 1956 Topps standouts that remain highly prized include Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale (#456), Chicago White Sox pitcher Early Wynn (#299), Milwaukee Braves third baseman Eddie Mathews (#474), Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Richie Ashburn (#378), and Cincinnati Redlegs first baseman Gordy Coleman (#506). Each were stars of the 1950s who had great careers, especially Drysdale, Wynn, and Mathews who all were inducted into Cooperstown later. Condition is everything though, with PSA 8’s easily selling for $1,000+ and MT/MT+ specimens potentially reaching the $5,000 range. Even lesser known but high graded cards like Gene Freese (#534), Wally Moon (#355), or Ray Semproch (#336) could bring $500+ due to scarcity at the upper levels.

As the collecting population expanded and information about vintage cards became widely available online, the most famous rookie cards and true “grails” from 1956 Topps started climbing higher at major card shows and popular online auction sites during the late 1980s. The 1990s and 2000s brought exponential growth to the vintage sports card market that has lasted to the present day. Overall condition, eye appeal, and signature / autograph affiliation all impact values, but elite examples of iconic 1950s rookies from Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Koufax and more will always be stratospherically priced due to their legendary careers and scarcity over 60+ years after production. Condition is perhaps the single most determining factor in a card’s value. The most storied cards from Topps’ 1956 set remain some of the crown jewels sought by wealthy collectors today.

Whether its star rookies like Koufax and Mays or hall of fame greats like Mantle, Williams and Aaron, the 1956 Topps set launched the collecting boom and featured some of the most influential players in MLB history. While Condition is critical, nostalgia and player performance propelled certain 1956 cards from commons to true rarities worth 5 and 6 figures today. Over 15,000 characters discussed the value and significance of several key cards that still top auctions and want lists as vintage baseball collecting marches into modern times.

1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS FULL SET

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable vintage sets in the hobby. Issued shortly after Topps took over the baseball card market from Bowman in 1955, the 1956 set represented Topps’ second year of production and laid the foundation for what would become the longest running brand in the sports card industry.

The 1956 Topps set contains a total of 407 cards and features photos and stats for every major league player in that season. Some key things to know about the design and production of the 1956 Topps set include that the cards have a yellow banner across the top with the player’s position and team name, with the photo and stats below. Each card measures 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, which was the standard size Topps used for most of their baseball issues through the 1980s. The backs of the cards have a brief biography of each player along with career statistics. An interesting distinction of the 1956 backs is that batting stats are grouped together on one side vertically, while pitching stats are grouped together vertically on the other side. Later issues would move to a horizontal layout.

In terms of production, the 1956 Topps set was printed using the photo offset lithography process on pulped paper stock. While not as durable as modern card stock, the quality was a major upgrade from the thin cardboard used in Bowman issues of the 1950s. Topps used team-provided photos for much of the set, with a selection of portraits likely taken during spring training in either 1955 or 1956. Roster and stats accuracy was high for the time, though managers and minor league callups that arose during the season are absent from the checklist.

The 1956 Topps set is notable for featuring some true legends of the game in their rookie seasons, including future Hall of Famers Don Drysdale, Roberto Clemente, and Sandy Koufax. The set also includes stars like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and more in the early stages of their surefire Cooperstown careers. With over 40 future Hall of Famers represented between rookies and established veterans, the ’56 Topps set boasts an incredible array of timeless talent.

In terms of rarity and value, having a complete set of the 1956 Topps issue in high graded condition is quite the prize for vintage baseball card collectors. The set has 407 cards as produced, though Topps printed short variants of a handful of stars that are also considered part of a true complete run. PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10 graded examples of common players can sell for $100-300 each still in the slabs today. Superstar rookies like Drysdale, Koufax, and Clemente in top-grades can fetch thousands to tens of thousands. An unopened original 1956 Topps wax wrapper box sold at auction in 2013 for over $100,000, a true treasure for the period.

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set broke new ground as Topps’ second year of sole baseball card distribution. Featuring a legendary array of future Hall of Fame talent and iconic design elements still used today, it established many of the standards that made Topps the enduring force it remains. With hugely valuable graded gems of rookie stars still possible to uncover 65+ years later, the 1956 set remains among the most storied and desirable issues for dedicated collectors of vintage cardboard. The popularity, condition challenges, and seven-figure prices achieved by elite examples cement the 1956 Topps baseballs cards as truly one of the hobby’s most prized full vintage sets.

1956 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS SIZE

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The 1956 Topps baseball card set is remembered as one of the most iconic issues in the history of the hobby. Not only did it continue Topps’ dominance as the lone baseball card producer at the time, but it also marked a transition to a now-standard card size and design that would remain in place for decades.

Prior to 1956, Topps had been releasing baseball cards in various sizes that were larger than what collectors are accustomed to today. The 1954 and 1955 sets utilized more of a landscape oriented format that was roughly 2 5/8 inches by 3 5/8 inches. While enjoyable relics from their era, these larger cards did not fit as easily in pockets or binders as the dimensions we now associate with traditional trading cards.

For 1956, Topps made the strategic choice to shrink the card size down significantly. The decision brought the dimensions close to what is produced in the modern day – 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. By trimming about 1/4 inch off each side compared to the previous year’s issues, Topps hit upon a goldilock size that was smaller and handier without being too tiny.

Collectors and players alike immediately embraced the more compact 1956 cardboard. They fit better in wallets, shoe boxes, and anywhere else cards might be casually stored or carried. Organizing and displaying full runs of sets also became more manageable in albums since the cards took up less relative space on pages. While a novelty at first, the 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 sizing maximized user experience in a way the larger precursors had not.

In terms of layout, Topps’ 1956 redesign brought continuity as well. The portrait style with stats on the rear became firmly established. Elements collectors now instantly recognize like the team logo at top, “official” sticker, and product branding were all elements that debuted or solidified in ’56. Even typographical details held over, as the classic “Topps” wordmark remained largely the same. So while downsized, the cards maintained familiar visual cues that kept the hobby feeling comfortably consistent during transition.

Beyond just functional size and structural formatting, the 1956 Topps design proved incredibly influential simply through its staying power. That basic size and style became the industry standard not just for Topps, but also competitors like Fleer and Donruss decades later. Even the photography techniques and illustration choices trended toward realism rather than whimsy compared to prior years’ issues. The 1956 aesthetic truly defined the no-nonsense cardboard collectors would associate with the classic baseball card for generations to come.

Evidence of the 1956 design’s significance is still visible in the robust marketplace today. PSA/BGS graded examples regularly shatter records at auction due to their historical nature amongst enthusiasts. Rosters included rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, both of which are highly valued by investors. Simply owning an unopened ’56 Topps box filled with crisp, minimally touched cards acts as a tangible link to when the cardboard craze first crystallized its quintessential form.

In many ways, the 1956 Topps set represented baseball cards growing up and finding an identity. By shrinking dimensions and refining presentation, Topps hit a mainstream sweet spot that maximized both user experience and mass market appeal. The results literally set the size standard still observed within the $800 million modern industry. For these reasons, aficionados rightly consider the 1956 Topps baseball issue as much more than just another vintage set – it was a pivotal warm-up before the classic cardboard Collectors know and love fully stepped up to the plate.

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