1956 Topps #308 Chuck Harmon
1956 Topps #308 Chuck Harmon
About Chuck Harmon
Charles Byron "Chuck" Harmon (born April 23, 1924, in Washington, Indiana) was a right-handed utility man best remembered as the first African-American player in Cincinnati Reds history. A basketball All-American at the University of Toledo, he briefly played for the Negro-league Indianapolis Clowns in 1947 under the alias "Charlie Fine" to protect his college eligibility, then signed a pro contract in the St. Louis Browns organization and hit above .300 across several minor-league seasons before the Reds acquired him. On April 17, 1954, at Milwaukee's County Stadium, Harmon pinch-hit to integrate the franchise (Puerto Rican Nino Escalera debuted the same day). Splitting his four big-league seasons among the Cincinnati Redlegs (1954-1956), St. Louis Cardinals (1956-1957) and Philadelphia Phillies (1957), the versatile third baseman-outfielder batted .238 with 7 home runs and 59 RBIs in 289 games. Nicknamed "The Glove" for keeping a separate mitt for each position he manned, Harmon later scouted, coached pro basketball, and was honored by the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2014. He died March 19, 2019, at age 94. This Series 4 high-number card is among the tougher-to-find cards 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 | 547 | 0 | 16 | 154 | 161 | 111 | 61 | 44 | 0 |
| SGC | 43 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Cincinnati Redlegs cards
- Ted Kluszewski
- Rudy Minarcin
- Art Fowler
- Ray Jablonski
- Cincinnati Redlegs Team
- Roy McMillan
- Al Silvera
- Wally Post
- Gus Bell
- Joe Black
- Smoky Burgess
- Johnny Temple
- Joe Nuxhall
- Bud Podbielan
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Chuck Harmon card?
It is card #308 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 Chuck Harmon 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.