1956 Topps #318 Fred Hatfield
1956 Topps #318 Fred Hatfield
About Fred Hatfield
Fred "Scrap Iron" Hatfield was a slick-fielding, left-handed-hitting infielder signed by Boston Red Sox scout Herb Brett in 1942 out of North Carolina; after a season in the minors he enlisted in the Army as a WWII paratrooper, returning to baseball in 1946. He reached the majors with the Red Sox on August 31, 1950 and played parts of nine seasons (1950-1958), primarily at third base but also at second and short, for Boston, Detroit, the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Hatfield came to the Tigers in the June 3, 1952 nine-player blockbuster that sent George Kell to Boston, and there he built his reputation as one of the American League's steadiest defensive third basemen, leading the circuit in fielding average and assists; his best year at the plate was 1954, when he hit .294. He earned the nickname "Scrap Iron" in the minors for his willingness to take one for the team, repeatedly leading his leagues in being hit by a pitch. A .242 career hitter with 493 hits, he later coached and managed extensively, guiding Florida State's baseball program (1964-68) and serving as a big-league coach and scout. This card is a Series 4 high number in 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 | 629 | 0 | 16 | 193 | 212 | 127 | 49 | 32 | 0 |
| SGC | 45 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 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 Fred Hatfield card?
It is card #318 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 Detroit Tigers player.
Is the 1956 Topps Fred Hatfield 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.