1956 Topps #262 Howie Pollet
1956 Topps #262 Howie Pollet
About Howie Pollet
A New Orleans native who starred at Fortier High School and in American Legion ball, left-hander Howie Pollet was signed into the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1939 by Eddie Dyer and dominated the minors, going 20-3 with a 1.16 ERA for the Houston Buffaloes in 1941 before his August debut that year. Over a 14-year career (1941-1956) with the Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and finally the Chicago White Sox, he went 131-116 with a 3.51 ERA and 934 strikeouts. A three-time All-Star (1943, 1946, 1949), he twice led the National League in ERA, posting a 1.75 mark in 1943 and a 2.10 ERA in his finest season of 1946, when he went 21-10 to lead the league in wins and helped St. Louis to the World Series title; he also won a second Series ring with the 1942 champions. His career was interrupted by service in the Army Air Forces during World War II (1944-45). Teammates prized his pinpoint control and change-up, with Jackie Robinson calling it "the best changeup in the league." Pollet later served as the Cardinals' pitching coach, earning another World Series championship in 1964. This card, #262, is a Series 4 high number in the 1956 Topps set and shows Pollet in his final big-league season with the White Sox.
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 | 582 | 0 | 15 | 177 | 173 | 120 | 58 | 39 | 0 |
| SGC | 42 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 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 Howie Pollet card?
It is card #262 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 White Sox player.
Is the 1956 Topps Howie Pollet 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.