1956 Topps #290 Curt Simmons
1956 Topps #290 Curt Simmons
About Curt Simmons
A hard-throwing left-hander born May 19, 1929, in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, Curt Simmons was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies out of a local all-star game for a reported $65,000 bonus, among the largest of its era, and debuted at age 18 in 1947. He pitched 20 major-league seasons for the Phillies (1947-1960), St. Louis Cardinals (1960-1966), Chicago Cubs (1966-1967), and California Angels (1967), finishing 193-183 with a 3.54 ERA, 1,697 strikeouts, 163 complete games, and 36 shutouts. A three-time All-Star (1952, 1953, 1957), Simmons and Robin Roberts anchored the 1950 "Whiz Kids" rotation that won the NL pennant; he went 17-8 that year but was ruled ineligible for the World Series after his National Guard unit was activated for the Korean War, then missed all of 1951 on military duty. He rebounded to lead the NL with six shutouts in 1952 and enjoyed his best win total, 18-9, for the 1964 Cardinals, who won the World Series (he started Games Three and Six without a decision or win). This #290 is a scarce Series 4 high-number card; both Hank Aaron and Stan Musial named Simmons among the toughest pitchers they ever faced. He died December 13, 2022, the last surviving member of the 1950 Whiz Kids.
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 | 670 | 0 | 24 | 199 | 198 | 136 | 67 | 46 | 0 |
| SGC | 62 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 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 Curt Simmons card?
It is card #290 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 Philadelphia Phillies player.
Is the 1956 Topps Curt Simmons 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.