1956 Topps #269 Jack Meyer
1956 Topps #269 Jack Meyer
About Jack Meyer
A hard-throwing right-hander from Philadelphia, Jack Meyer turned down a reported $25,000 bonus from the Yankees to attend Wake Forest, then signed with the hometown Phillies in 1951 and climbed through their farm system (Bradford, Wilmington, Schenectady, Syracuse) before reaching the majors in 1955. He spent his entire seven-year career (1955-1961) with Philadelphia, working chiefly out of the bullpen. As a rookie he was a revelation, leading the National League in saves (16) and games finished (36) with a 3.43 ERA and 97 strikeouts, finishing second in the 1955 Rookie of the Year vote behind Pirates outfielder Bill Virdon. Nicknamed "The Bird," Meyer was a charter member of the hard-partying "Dalton Gang" of Phillies pitchers, and his off-field escapades—including a 1960 altercation that herniated a disk and drew a hefty fine—cut short a career built on what teammate Robin Roberts called overpowering stuff. Over 202 appearances he went 24-34 with a 3.92 ERA, 21 saves and 375 strikeouts. He died of a heart attack in 1967 at just 34. This high-number card (series 4) is Meyer's Topps rookie.
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 | 667 | 1 | 14 | 193 | 219 | 141 | 64 | 34 | 1 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 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 Jack Meyer card?
It is card #269 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 Philadelphia Phillies player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Jack Meyer 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.