1956 Topps #179 Harry Chiti
1956 Topps #179 Harry Chiti
About Harry Chiti
A big, rifle-armed catcher, Harry Dominic Chiti Jr. signed with the Chicago Cubs out of Northwestern High School in Detroit on June 29, 1950, for a bonus of roughly $20,000 that was reportedly the largest the organization had ever paid. He debuted that September at just 17, then split ten major-league seasons (1950-1962) between the Cubs, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets after two years lost to Army service during the Korean War. Returning in 1955, the right-handed hitter enjoyed his finest year, catching 113 games and hitting .231 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs. His 1956 Topps card comes from a disappointing follow-up campaign that led to his exit from Chicago; over his full career he batted .238 with 41 homers and 179 RBIs in 502 games. Chiti is best remembered for baseball's oddest transaction: acquired by the expansion Mets from Cleveland in April 1962 as a player to be named later, he was sent back to the Indians that June as the very player completing the deal, becoming the first man in big-league history "traded for himself." He died in Haines City, Florida, on January 31, 2002. This card is found on both the scarcer white and the more common gray back stock of the 1956 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 1 & 2 (cards 1-180)
Every card #1-180 exists with the reverse printed on white/cream card stock OR on gray card stock. Cards #181-340 are gray-back only. The scarcity FLIPS at #100: on cards 1-100 the gray back is slightly scarcer (a modest premium); on cards 101-180 the gray backs are far more common (about 12-15 to 1), so the WHITE back is the scarce, premium variation - often +50% or more, and disproportionately so in high grade, since the white-stock cards tend to be more brittle.
- White Back: Printed on white/cream card stock. The standard/common look on cards 1-100; the SCARCE, premium variation on cards 101-180.
- Gray Back: Printed on gray card stock. The scarcer variation on cards 1-100 (modest premium); the common look on cards 101-180; the ONLY back on cards 181-340.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 613 | 0 | 14 | 156 | 176 | 109 | 71 | 87 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 550 · White Back 63
SGC by variation: Gray Back 40 · White Back 6
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 Chiti card?
It is card #179 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 Chicago Cubs player.
Does the 1956 Topps Harry Chiti have back variations?
Yes. Every card #1-180 exists with the reverse printed on white/cream card stock OR on gray card stock. Cards #181-340 are gray-back only. The scarcity FLIPS at #100: on cards 1-100 the gray back is slightly scarcer (a modest premium); on cards 101-180 the gray backs are far more common (about 12-15 to 1), so the WHITE back is the scarce, premium variation - often +50% or more, and disproportionately so in high grade, since the white-stock cards tend to be more brittle.
Is the 1956 Topps Harry Chiti 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.