1956 Topps #102 Jim Davis
1956 Topps #102 Jim Davis
About Jim Davis
Card #102 pictures Chicago Cubs left-hander Jim Davis (James Bennett Davis), born September 15, 1924, in Red Bluff, California. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1946 after graduating from Red Bluff High School and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, spent four years in their farm system, then had his contract sold to the Pacific Coast League's Seattle Rainiers in 1950, where he pitched in 157 games over four seasons before the Cubs acquired him. Davis reached the majors on April 18, 1954, and his rookie year was his best, posting an 11-7 record and a 3.52 ERA. Over four big-league seasons with the Cubs (1954-1956), St. Louis Cardinals (1957), and New York Giants (1957), he appeared in 154 games and went 24-26 with a 4.01 ERA, 197 strikeouts, eight saves, four complete games, and one shutout. His signature moment came on May 27, 1956, when he struck out four Cardinals in the sixth inning of a game, becoming the first major-league pitcher in roughly forty years to fan four batters in a single inning. He retired from professional baseball in 1959 and died November 30, 1995, in San Mateo, California. As a second-series card, #102 exists with both the scarcer white and the more common gray back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 761 | 1 | 18 | 168 | 236 | 149 | 97 | 92 | 0 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 676 · White Back 85
SGC by variation: Gray Back 43 · White Back 10
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 Jim Davis card?
It is card #102 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 Cubs player.
Does the 1956 Topps Jim Davis 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 Jim Davis 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.