1956 Topps #305 Brooks Lawrence
1956 Topps #305 Brooks Lawrence
About Brooks Lawrence
Brooks Ulysses Lawrence (1925-2000) was a right-handed pitcher born in Springfield, Ohio, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II before pitching two seasons at Miami University (Ohio) and signing with the Cleveland Indians' farm system, where he climbed from Class-D Zanesville up through the minors and sharpened a sinker, slider, and changeup while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. He reached the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 24, 1954, winning his debut and going 15-6 as a rookie; Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky nicknamed him "The Bull" for his powerful presence, and sportswriter Bob Broeg wrote that he had "the heart of a lion, the hide of a rhino, and the stamina of a water buffalo." Traded to Cincinnati, he authored a career year for the surprising 1956 Redlegs, opening the season with 13 straight victories, finishing 19-10 with a 3.99 ERA, and earning selection to the National League All-Star team. Over seven big-league seasons (1954-1960) with the Cardinals and Redlegs/Reds, he went 69-62 with a 4.25 ERA and 481 strikeouts. Largely for that 1956 run, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1976. This #305 card is a Series 4 high number 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 | 663 | 0 | 10 | 192 | 223 | 136 | 56 | 46 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
SGC by variation: Standard 45 · 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 Brooks Lawrence card?
It is card #305 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 Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Is the 1956 Topps Brooks Lawrence 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.