1956 Topps #277 Daryl Spencer
1956 Topps #277 Daryl Spencer
About Daryl Spencer
A power-hitting shortstop from Wichita, Kansas, Daryl Dean Spencer (1928-2017) reached the majors after Giants scout Mel Ott signed him out of semipro ball in 1949; he climbed through Sioux City, Nashville, and Minneapolis before debuting with the New York Giants in September 1952. Over parts of ten big-league seasons (1952-1963) he played mainly shortstop-along with second and third base-for the New York/San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cincinnati Reds, batting .244 with 901 hits, 105 home runs, and 428 RBI in 1,098 games. His signature moment came on April 15, 1958, when he hit the first home run in San Francisco Giants history-also the first big-league homer struck on the West Coast-in an 8-0 win over the Dodgers at Seals Stadium. After his MLB career, Spencer starred in Japan for the Hankyu Braves (1964-1972), where his size and power earned him the nickname "The Monster" and two Best Nine Awards. He was inducted into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. This is a scarcer high-number card from the fourth series of 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 | 612 | 1 | 13 | 163 | 191 | 146 | 66 | 32 | 0 |
| SGC | 45 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
SGC by variation: Standard 44 · 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 Daryl Spencer card?
It is card #277 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 New York Giants player.
Is the 1956 Topps Daryl Spencer 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.