1956 Topps #231 Bob Hale
1956 Topps #231 Bob Hale
About Bob Hale
Robert Houston Hale (November 7, 1933 - September 8, 2012) was a left-handed-hitting, left-handed-throwing first baseman signed by the St. Louis Browns before the 1952 season. After tearing up the minors - he hit .355 for the York White Roses in 1955 - Baltimore called him up, and he debuted on July 4, 1955. Hale batted a sparkling .357 in 67 games as a rookie, and this 1956 Topps card (#231) captures him early in that Orioles run. Over seven big-league seasons with Baltimore (1955-1959), Cleveland (1960-1961), and the New York Yankees (1961), he hit .273 with 171 hits, 2 home runs, and 89 RBI across 376 games, increasingly used as a pinch hitter. His most memorable moment came in his final at-bat, October 1, 1961: he singled off Tracy Stallard in the same game Roger Maris hit his record-setting 61st home run. As a mid-run Series 3 card, it carries the set's gray-back stock scarcer at higher numbers.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 541 | 2 | 17 | 152 | 148 | 119 | 56 | 47 | 0 |
| SGC | 42 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 0 |
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 Hale card?
It is card #231 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 Baltimore Orioles player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Bob Hale 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.