1956 Topps #284 Ike Delock
1956 Topps #284 Ike Delock
About Ike Delock
Ivan Martin "Ike" Delock (1929-2022) was a right-handed pitcher signed by Red Sox scout Maurice DeLoof in 1948 after a Marine Corps hitch (1946-1948) during which he first learned to pitch. He climbed the Boston farm system - including a 20-4, 1.92-ERA season at Scranton in 1951 - and reached the majors in 1952, earning his first big-league win by striking out Mickey Mantle with the bases loaded against the Yankees. Delock spent essentially his entire 11-year career (1952-53, 1955-63) with the Red Sox before a brief 1963 stint with the Baltimore Orioles, finishing 84-75 with a 4.03 ERA, 672 strikeouts, and 31 saves over 329 games as both a starter and reliever. In 1956 - the year of this high-number series 4 card - he thrived out of the bullpen, leading the American League in relief victories and earning an "Unsung Hero" honor. His finest work came in 1958, when he went 14-8 and was named the Red Sox' Pitcher of the Year by Boston's Baseball Writers, and in 1959 he posted an 11-6 record with a sharp 2.95 ERA. A knee injury in 1962 hastened the end of his career.
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 | 706 | 0 | 10 | 191 | 225 | 167 | 74 | 39 | 0 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 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 Ike Delock card?
It is card #284 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 Boston Red Sox player.
Is the 1956 Topps Ike Delock 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.