1956 Topps #274 Frank Baumholtz
1956 Topps #274 Frank Baumholtz
About Frank Baumholtz
A two-sport standout, Frank Baumholtz starred in basketball at Ohio University, where he was named MVP of the 1941 National Invitation Tournament while leading the Bobcats to the final. He played pro basketball for the Youngstown Bears (NBL) and Cleveland Rebels (BAA) before reaching the majors, one of a small group of athletes to appear in both the NBA/BAA and MLB. A left-handed-hitting outfielder, Baumholtz debuted with the Cincinnati Reds on April 15, 1947, and spent ten big-league seasons with the Reds (1947-1949), Chicago Cubs (1949, 1951-1955), and Philadelphia Phillies (1956-1957). Over 1,019 games he batted .290 with 1,010 hits, 25 home runs, and 272 RBI. His finest year came in 1952, when he hit .325 to finish runner-up to Stan Musial in the National League batting race; in a famous season-ending publicity stunt on September 28, 1952, Musial took the mound to pitch to Baumholtz, who batted right-handed for the only time in his career and lined the pitch off third baseman Solly Hemus. In Chicago he, Hank Sauer, and Ralph Kiner were nicknamed the "Quicksand Kids" for their lack of foot speed. This card is a Series 4 high number, printed with the Phillies late in his career.
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 | 643 | 1 | 14 | 182 | 211 | 149 | 51 | 35 | 0 |
| SGC | 50 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 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 Frank Baumholtz card?
It is card #274 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 Frank Baumholtz 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.