1956 Topps #29 Jack Harshman
1956 Topps #29 Jack Harshman
About Jack Harshman
Jack Harshman (1927-2013) is one of the more unusual subjects in the 1956 Topps set: a left-handed pitcher who reached the majors only after years as a slugging first baseman. He signed with the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1945 as a hitter, belting 40 home runs for Minneapolis in 1949 and 47 for Nashville in 1951 before converting to the mound on the advice of Nashville Vols owner Larry Gilbert. A dominant 23-7, 3.27 season for Nashville in 1953 earned him a purchase by the Chicago White Sox, the team pictured on this card. Harshman pitched in the majors from 1948 to 1960 for the New York Giants, White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians, finishing 69-65 with a 3.50 ERA and 741 strikeouts. His signature game came July 25, 1954, when he struck out 16 Red Sox at Fenway Park, including Ted Williams; the following month he threw an estimated 245 pitches over a 16-inning shutout of Detroit. True to his hitting roots, he clubbed 21 career home runs and was often used as a pinch-hitter. Like all first-series 1956 Topps cards, #29 exists with both the scarcer gray and the common white back stock.
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 | 885 | 3 | 23 | 245 | 273 | 200 | 77 | 63 | 1 |
| SGC | 61 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 226 · White Back 659
SGC by variation: Gray Back 33 · White Back 28
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 Jack Harshman card?
It is card #29 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.
Does the 1956 Topps Jack Harshman 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 Jack Harshman 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.