1956 Topps #278 Chet Nichols
1956 Topps #278 Chet Nichols
About Chet Nichols
Chester Raymond "Chet" Nichols Jr., a left-handed pitcher born February 22, 1931, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was signed by Boston Braves scout Jeff Jones in December 1948 and reached the majors in 1951. As a 20-year-old rookie that season he went 11-8 and led the entire National League with a 2.88 ERA over 156 innings, finishing runner-up to Willie Mays for Rookie of the Year. He then missed the 1952 and 1953 seasons to Army service during the Korean War, returning in 1954 to a franchise that had relocated to Milwaukee, the club shown on this card. Nichols pitched nine big-league seasons in all with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1951, 1954-56), Boston Red Sox (1960-63), and Cincinnati Reds (1964), compiling a 34-36 record, 3.64 ERA, and 266 strikeouts. His father, Chet Nichols Sr., had also pitched in the majors in the 1920s and 1930s. This #278 is a scarcer Series 4 high number. Nichols died March 27, 1995, in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
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 | 687 | 0 | 10 | 198 | 228 | 163 | 60 | 28 | 0 |
| SGC | 47 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 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 Chet Nichols card?
It is card #278 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 Milwaukee Braves player.
Is the 1956 Topps Chet Nichols 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.