1956 Topps #52 Bob Grim
1956 Topps #52 Bob Grim
About Bob Grim
Bob Grim was a right-handed pitcher whom the New York Yankees signed as an amateur in June 1948 out of Brooklyn's Franklin K. Lane High School. After developing his signature slider in the minors and serving in the Marines during the Korean War, Grim reached the majors on April 18, 1954, and delivered one of the great rookie seasons in franchise history: a 20-6 record with a 3.26 ERA that made him the first Yankee to win 20 games as a rookie since 1910 and earned him the 1954 American League Rookie of the Year Award. A subsequent elbow injury in 1955, which he blamed on the slider, shortened his effectiveness as a starter and pushed him into relief. Reinvented as a reliever in 1957, he earned an All-Star selection and led the AL with 19 saves, and he pitched for the Yankees in the 1955 and 1957 World Series. He later pitched for the Athletics, Indians, Reds and Cardinals, finishing an eight-year career (1954-1962) at 61-41 with a 3.61 ERA and 443 strikeouts. This #52 card is a double print and exists with both white and gray back-stock, the gray being the scarcer variety. Grim died in 1996 at age 66.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 1 & 2 (cards 1-180)
Every card #1-180 exists with the reverse printed on white/cream card stock OR on gray card stock. Cards #181-340 are gray-back only. The scarcity FLIPS at #100: on cards 1-100 the gray back is slightly scarcer (a modest premium); on cards 101-180 the gray backs are far more common (about 12-15 to 1), so the WHITE back is the scarce, premium variation - often +50% or more, and disproportionately so in high grade, since the white-stock cards tend to be more brittle.
- White Back: Printed on white/cream card stock. The standard/common look on cards 1-100; the SCARCE, premium variation on cards 101-180.
- Gray Back: Printed on gray card stock. The scarcer variation on cards 1-100 (modest premium); the common look on cards 101-180; the ONLY back on cards 181-340.
Double Print
An uncut Series-1 sheet (110 cards, 10x11) shows 20 cards were double-printed - modestly more plentiful than their series-mates. The list happily includes #30 Jackie Robinson and #31 Hank Aaron. The only print-quantity designation in the set (there is no recognized short-print run).
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 994 | 1 | 11 | 214 | 281 | 233 | 130 | 123 | 1 |
| SGC | 112 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 32 | 22 | 29 | 19 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 296 · White Back 698
SGC by variation: Gray Back 70 · White Back 42
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 Bob Grim card?
It is card #52 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.
Does the 1956 Topps Bob Grim have back variations?
Yes. Every card #1-180 exists with the reverse printed on white/cream card stock OR on gray card stock. Cards #181-340 are gray-back only. The scarcity FLIPS at #100: on cards 1-100 the gray back is slightly scarcer (a modest premium); on cards 101-180 the gray backs are far more common (about 12-15 to 1), so the WHITE back is the scarce, premium variation - often +50% or more, and disproportionately so in high grade, since the white-stock cards tend to be more brittle.
Is the 1956 Topps Bob Grim 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.