1956 Topps Baseball Card # 62 Hal Smith - Baltimore Orioles (P)

1950-1959 Baseball Cards

Other decades may have produced more valuable cards, but 1950s baseball cards are arguably the most iconic and sought-after vintage cards in the entire hobby. At times, they seemed more like art than simply sports cards. Vivid colors and beautiful images filled checklists with names that now populate Cooperstown. As the country moved on after World War II, this would become the Renaissance period for baseball cards. A dominant figure throughout much of baseball card history, Topps released their first baseball product in 1951 and would not look back. While the later years of the 1950s and beyond were owned by Topps, they got a serious fight from Bowman in the early 1950s.

Although there are many great options from this decade, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, and 1954 Topps have separated themselves from the pack. Top rookie card offering from this decade include Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Matthews, and Bob Gibson.

1956 Topps Baseball Cards

1956 Topps Baseball is headlined by cards for Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams in addition to a variety of new features in the set. Luis Aparicio is the key rookie card.

Product Details

1956 Topps Baseball may not have the rookie card power of previous releases, but key cards for Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams combine with several new features to make for a extensive vintage release. The return of Mantle to the brand after several years away is particularly notable.

With Topps having acquired Bowman the previous year, consumers were no longer forced to choose between manufacturers and risk missing out on their favorite player. Many consider the 1956 Topps Baseball set a turning point for the baseball card industry as it marked the beginning of Topps' monopoly over the baseball card industry which lasted all the way until 1981, and was then re-established in 2010.

The 1956 Topps Baseball set boasts a checklist of 340 base cards and two non-numbered checklists. The dimension of the horizontal cards is 3-3/4" by 2-5/8". Building on their success with dual-image cards in previous years, Topps upped the ante by positioning the player profile picture in the foreground against a color action scene in the background. The design really worked and remains one of the most attractive and highly sought after baseball card sets to this day.

In addition to the beautifully crafted card front, the 1956 Topps Baseball card backs supplies a cornucopia of information regarding the player, including statistical and biographical information. The popular three-panel comic strips provide additional bits of information about the depicted player.

Topps incorporated several new elements into the checklist and product configuration for the 1956 set. First, the aforementioned checklist cards were a fresh update for the Topps set. Also, cards for the American League and National League president were included at the beginning of the checklist. Finally, team-specific cards provide a detailed look at the 16 MLB teams of the time.

These added elements reflects Topps ability to focus their resources of time, energy and attention to building a successful product and not having to worry about competing with Bowman. This was further exhibited by the number of additional products Topps released in the same year.

Despite the overall upgrade to the set, 1956 Topps Baseball wasn't a banner year for rookie cards. While the set does include thirteen first-year cards, Luis Aparicio (#92) is the only Hall of Fame option. Frank Robinson, the National League Rookie of the Year, is a glaring omission. In spite of this, the set is loaded with stars, fan favorites and many Hall of Fame members, which helps offset the lack of rookie power.

While the 342-card base set is hardy small, over 200 variations greatly increase the available cards in 1956 Topps Baseball. The majority of these pertain to card back colors, many of which were printed in both white and gray. The first 180 cards can be found in either color and the final 160 card backs are only available in gray.

There are also quite a few card fronts that feature subtle color line variations. Lastly, several of the team cards can be found with the name centered, the name at left or dated. Dated team cards carry a premium.

1956 Topps Baseball is considered by many to be one of the ultimate set-building products ever created. The countless variations provide a seemingly never-ending chase for the master set builder. Despite the abundance of variations, virtually none are known to command any premium.

How We Grade:

Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. 

Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. 

Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. 

Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks.

Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. 

Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. 

Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. 

Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. 

We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund.

Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.

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