1956 Topps #216 Jerry Schoonmaker
1956 Topps #216 Jerry Schoonmaker
About Jerry Schoonmaker
Jerald Lee "Jerry" Schoonmaker (December 14, 1933 – March 18, 2018) was a right-handed outfielder who reached the majors as a "bonus baby." A standout at the University of Missouri, he signed a $30,000 bonus contract with the Washington Senators in 1955. Under the era's Bonus Rule, that signing forced the club to keep him on its big-league roster for two full seasons, so he broke in with the Senators without any minor-league seasoning, debuting on June 11, 1955, at age 21. He appeared in 20 games as a rookie in 1955, then spent all of 1956 serving in the U.S. military before returning for 30 games in 1957. Across those two Washington seasons he played all three outfield spots and hit .130 with 9 hits, 1 home run, and 4 RBI in 50 games (69 at-bats). Sent down at last in 1958, he batted .222 in the minors, mostly with the Charlotte Hornets, but an eye injury from a metal sliver while working a construction job that offseason ended his playing career at 25. On this 1956 Topps card his club appears as the "Washington Nationals," the name Topps used for the Senators franchise in the mid-1950s. The card is his rookie card, issued during the very season he missed while in uniform for the Army.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 605 | 1 | 21 | 166 | 185 | 144 | 55 | 33 | 0 |
| SGC | 56 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 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 Jerry Schoonmaker card?
It is card #216 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 Washington Nationals player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Jerry Schoonmaker 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.