1956 Topps #181 Billy Martin
1956 Topps #181 Billy Martin
About Billy Martin
Born Alfred Manuel Martin Jr. on May 16, 1928, in Berkeley, California, Billy Martin earned his nickname from his grandmother, who cooed "bello" (beautiful) over him as an infant. After signing out of high school and developing with the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League under Casey Stengel, the scrappy second baseman debuted with the New York Yankees on April 18, 1950, and became a fixture of their 1950s dynasty. He is best remembered for his lunging, game-saving catch of Jackie Robinson's wind-blown, bases-loaded popup in Game 7 of the 1952 World Series, and for dominating the 1953 World Series, where he collected 12 hits and was named Series MVP. A championship contributor on the Yankees' 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1956 title teams, Martin made his lone All-Star appearance in 1956 — the year of this card. Over 11 major-league seasons with seven clubs through 1961, he batted .257 with 64 home runs and 333 RBI. He later became one of baseball's most volatile and celebrated managers, guiding the Yankees to the 1977 World Series title, though he was never elected to the Hall of Fame as a player.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 2,098 | 1 | 20 | 222 | 334 | 457 | 406 | 655 | 3 |
| SGC | 538 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50 | 61 | 133 | 270 | 12 |
SGC by variation: Standard 537 · Gray Back 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Billy Martin card?
It is card #181 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 New York Yankees player.
Is the 1956 Topps Billy Martin 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.