1956 Topps #309 Don Blasingame
1956 Topps #309 Don Blasingame
About Don Blasingame
A speedy left-handed second baseman from Corinth, Mississippi, Don Blasingame signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1953 after Army service during the Korean War, breaking in as a shortstop in the farm system and hitting .315 with 34 stolen bases for the Houston Buffaloes in 1954. He debuted for St. Louis on September 20, 1955, and took over second base in 1956 after the Cardinals traded veteran Red Schoendienst to the Giants that June. Over a 12-year career (1955-1966) with the Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, and Kansas City Athletics, "Blazer" -- a nickname earned for his flashy play and blazing speed, and also called the "Corinth Comet" for his hometown -- batted .258 with 1,366 hits, 21 home runs, 308 RBI, and 105 stolen bases over 1,444 games. He earned his lone All-Star selection in 1958 and led the National League with 650 at-bats in 1957. After his big-league days he spent years in Japan as a player, coach, and manager. Though not in Cooperstown, he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. This 1956 Topps high-number card (#309) is his rookie card.
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 | 750 | 0 | 20 | 202 | 245 | 159 | 78 | 46 | 0 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 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 Don Blasingame card?
It is card #309 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 St. Louis Cardinals player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Don Blasingame 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.