1956 Topps #289 Hal Jeffcoat
1956 Topps #289 Hal Jeffcoat
About Hal Jeffcoat
Harold Bentley Jeffcoat (1924-2007) was one of the game's rare position-players-turned-pitchers, and this 1956 Topps high-number card captures him in his first season on the mound for the Cincinnati Redlegs. A West Columbia, South Carolina native, Jeffcoat served in World War II as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, making 13 jumps and earning a Purple Heart before signing with the Nashville Volunteers in 1946. The Chicago Cubs purchased his contract in January 1948, and he became their regular center fielder, batting .279 as a rookie. Struggling at the plate, he was converted to a right-handed pitcher in 1954 on the strength of his natural sinker. Traded to Cincinnati for 1956, he enjoyed his best pitching year, going 8-2. That same season he threw the pitch that beaned Brooklyn's Don Zimmer on June 23, 1956, fracturing Zimmer's cheekbone and ending his season. Over 12 major-league seasons (Cubs, Redlegs/Reds, Cardinals) he batted .248 with 26 home runs and 188 RBI as a hitter and went 39-37 with a 4.22 ERA and 25 saves as a pitcher.
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 | 645 | 0 | 14 | 196 | 185 | 135 | 73 | 42 | 0 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 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 Hal Jeffcoat card?
It is card #289 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 Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Is the 1956 Topps Hal Jeffcoat 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.