1956 Topps #204 Art Swanson
1956 Topps #204 Art Swanson
About Art Swanson
Arthur Leonard "Red" Swanson Jr. (1936-2024) was a right-handed pitcher who spent his entire major-league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, he starred at Neville High School in Monroe—where he once strung together 26 straight no-hit innings over six games and won back-to-back state Class-A titles—before pitching briefly at LSU. The Pirates signed him as a "bonus baby" in 1955 after Branch Rickey watched him work out at Forbes Field, and the era's bonus rule forced the youngster to stick on Pittsburgh's big-league roster rather than develop in the minors. Swanson appeared in 1 game in 1955, 10 in 1956, and 32 in 1957, finishing 3-3 with a 4.90 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 42 pitching appearances. His career highlight came on June 18, 1957, when in his first major-league start he tossed a two-hit, 8-1 complete-game victory over the Cardinals at St. Louis. Known throughout his career as "Red," he later became LSU's freshman baseball coach and scouted for the Phillies. This 1956 Topps card (#204) is his rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 592 | 1 | 15 | 157 | 187 | 124 | 66 | 42 | 0 |
| SGC | 45 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-30. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Pittsburgh Pirates cards
- Roy Face
- Dick Groat
- Roberto Clemente
- Gene Freese
- Dale Long
- Johnny O'Brien
- Ron Kline
- Jerry Lynch
- Laurin Pepper
- Eddie O'Brien
- Pittsburgh Pirates Team
- Paul Martin
- Frank Thomas
- Max Surkont
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Art Swanson card?
It is card #204 of 340 in the 1956 Topps set - Topps' first set after buying out rival Bowman, and one of the most attractive issues in the hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Art Swanson valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back or front variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, BaseballCardPedia, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data, images & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.