1956 Topps #297 Bob Skinner
1956 Topps #297 Bob Skinner
About Bob Skinner
Bob Skinner was a left-handed-hitting outfielder and first baseman signed by Pittsburgh Pirates scouts in 1951 out of semipro ball in Southern California, beginning his pro career in the Class D Kitty League. Born October 3, 1931, in La Jolla, California, he debuted with the Pirates in 1954 and, after a year of military service, became a fixture in the Pittsburgh lineup, playing 12 major-league seasons with the Pirates (1954, 1956-1963), Cincinnati Reds (1963-1964), and St. Louis Cardinals (1964-1966). A three-time All-Star, he starred in 1958 with a career-high .321 average and was selected to both All-Star Games in 1960, a year he drove in a career-high 86 runs. Skinner was a key part of the Pirates' 1960 World Series upset of the Yankees: injured in Game One, he returned for Game Seven and laid down a sacrifice bunt during the decisive eighth-inning rally. He won three World Series rings in all -- as a player with Pittsburgh (1960) and St. Louis (1964) and as a Pirates coach (1979). Broadcaster Bob Prince dubbed him "The Dog," part of the animal nicknames the announcer gave that Pirates club. Skinner finished with a .277 average, 1,198 hits, 103 home runs, and 531 RBI, later managed the Phillies and Padres, and was the father of big-league catcher Joel Skinner. This #297 is a fourth-series high-number card in the 1956 Topps set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number (Series 4)
Cards 261-340. Unlike most vintage sets, the 1956 high numbers carry NO series premium - they were distributed in similar quantities to the rest of the set.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 603 | 1 | 10 | 150 | 193 | 140 | 61 | 48 | 0 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 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 Skinner card?
It is card #297 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.
Is the 1956 Topps Bob Skinner 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.