1956 Topps #307 Hoyt Wilhelm
1956 Topps #307 Hoyt Wilhelm
About Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm was a right-handed knuckleball pitcher who turned to the flutterball after realizing he lacked a fastball, debuting professionally with the Class-D Mooresville Moors in 1942. His climb was interrupted by World War II, where he served in the Army's European Theater, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and earned a Purple Heart. Signed out of the minors by the New York Giants, he finally reached the majors on April 18, 1952 at age 29 and pitched an astonishing 21 seasons for nine clubs, including the Giants (1952-1956) shown on this high-number series-four card. Used chiefly as a reliever, he led the NL in ERA as a rookie (2.43 in 1952), later won an AL ERA title (2.19 in 1959), threw a no-hitter against the Yankees on September 20, 1958, and helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series. An eight-time All-Star, he retired with a 143-122 record, a 2.52 ERA, 1,610 strikeouts, 228 saves (the first pitcher to reach 200), and a then-record 1,070 games pitched. Nicknamed "Old Sarge" for his military rank and "Old Folks" for his longevity, he homered in his first big-league season for what proved his only career home run in 432 at-bats. In 1985 he became the first relief pitcher elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 1,638 | 0 | 20 | 280 | 348 | 393 | 267 | 330 | 0 |
| SGC | 367 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 40 | 66 | 94 | 151 | 3 |
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 Hoyt Wilhelm card?
It is card #307 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 New York Giants player.
Is the 1956 Topps Hoyt Wilhelm 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.