1956 Topps #206 Erv Palica
1956 Topps #206 Erv Palica
About Erv Palica
Ervin Martin Palica (born Pavliecevich; 1928-1982) was a right-handed pitcher from Lomita, California, signed by Brooklyn Dodgers scout Tom Downey on January 25, 1945, when he was just sixteen. He debuted that April at seventeen as the youngest player in the National League, though he did not throw his first big-league pitch until 1947. Palica pitched ten major-league seasons (1945-1956), the bulk with the Dodgers and his final two years with the Baltimore Orioles, the club shown on this card. His breakthrough came in 1950, his best season, when he won 13 games with two shutouts, 19 starts, ten complete games and 131 strikeouts, and he also connected for a grand slam off Bubba Church that stood as his only major-league home run. Catcher Roy Campanella praised his fastball as having "more life than that of any other Dodgers' pitcher." Palica appeared in Game 5 of the 1949 World Series against the Yankees, then lost 1952 and most of 1953 to U.S. Army service at Fort Dix during the Korean War. Traded to Baltimore after 1954, he finished 41-55 with a 4.22 ERA and 423 strikeouts across 246 appearances, then pitched several more seasons in the minors. He died of a heart attack in 1982 at age 54.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 716 | 1 | 23 | 208 | 223 | 156 | 71 | 34 | 0 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 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 Erv Palica card?
It is card #206 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 Baltimore Orioles player.
Is the 1956 Topps Erv Palica 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.