1956 Topps #229 Harry Brecheen
1956 Topps #229 Harry Brecheen
About Harry Brecheen
Harry David Brecheen (1914-2004), nicknamed "Harry the Cat" for the way he pounced on bunts, was a crafty left-handed screwball pitcher who debuted for the St. Louis Cardinals on April 22, 1940. He pitched for the Cardinals (1940, 1943-1952) and the St. Louis Browns (1953), finishing 133-92 with a 2.92 ERA and 901 strikeouts. A two-time All-Star (1947-48), he peaked in 1948 at 20-7, leading the National League in ERA (2.24), strikeouts (149), and shutouts. His signature moment came in the 1946 World Series against Boston, where he went 3-0 to become the first lefty to win three games in a single Series; his career World Series ERA of 0.83 stood as a major-league record from 1946 until 1976. By 1956 Brecheen had moved to the dugout as pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles (1954-1967), later mentoring young arms like Jim Palmer and Dave McNally. As a mid-set Series 3 card (#181-260), #229 is typically found with the gray back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 596 | 1 | 12 | 169 | 170 | 125 | 83 | 36 | 0 |
| SGC | 50 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 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 Harry Brecheen card?
It is card #229 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 coach.
Is the 1956 Topps Harry Brecheen 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.