1956 Topps #22 Jim Finigan
1956 Topps #22 Jim Finigan
About Jim Finigan
Jim Finigan (1928-1981), a right-handed third and second baseman from Quincy, Illinois, signed with the New York Yankees organization in the late 1940s and climbed through the minors at stops including Joplin, Norfolk, and Binghamton, his progress interrupted by two years of U.S. Army service during the Korean War. Traded to the Athletics in December 1953, he arrived in a rush: as a 1954 rookie in Philadelphia he hit .302 with 7 home runs and 51 RBI in 136 games, earned The Sporting News All-Rookie honors, made the American League All-Star team, and finished runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year behind Bob Grim. The following year, with the club relocated to Kansas City, fans voted him the AL's starting third baseman for the 1955 All-Star Game, his second straight selection. Vision trouble (an undiagnosed astigmatism) and injuries soon dulled his bat, and after passing through Detroit, San Francisco, and Baltimore he played his final big-league game on July 5, 1959, closing a six-year career with a .264 average, 422 hits, 19 homers, and 168 RBI over 512 games. This 1956 Topps card pictures Finigan with the Kansas City Athletics and, like others numbered 1-180 in the set, exists with either white or the scarcer gray 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 | 793 | 0 | 12 | 238 | 235 | 184 | 73 | 51 | 0 |
| SGC | 62 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 231 · White Back 562
SGC by variation: Gray Back 34 · Gray Back (Overprint - Brodowski) 1 · White Back 27
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 Finigan card?
It is card #22 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 Kansas City Athletics player.
Does the 1956 Topps Jim Finigan 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 Finigan 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.