1956 Topps #280 Jim Gilliam
1956 Topps #280 Jim Gilliam
About Jim Gilliam
James William "Junior" Gilliam broke into pro ball at 17 with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro leagues in 1946, where manager George "Tubby" Scales tagged him "Junior" as the club's youngest player and converted him into a switch-hitter to beat right-handed curveballs. The Brooklyn Dodgers purchased his contract after the 1950 season, and following a stint at Triple-A Montreal he reached the majors in 1953, winning National League Rookie of the Year after scoring 125 runs, drawing 100 walks, and leading the league with 17 triples. A steady, cerebral second baseman and third baseman who played every position but pitcher, shortstop, and catcher, Gilliam spent his entire 14-year career (1953-1966) with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, batting .265 with 1,889 hits, 65 home runs, 558 RBI, and 203 stolen bases. He earned two All-Star selections and won four World Series titles as a player (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965). His 1956 Topps card captures his finest season, when he hit .300, made the All-Star team, and finished fifth in MVP voting. Gilliam later became a beloved Dodgers coach; he died in October 1978 at age 49, just before the World Series, and the club retired his number 19. This high-number card (#280) comes from the fourth and final series of the 1956 set.
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 | 1,060 | 0 | 17 | 203 | 246 | 228 | 167 | 199 | 0 |
| SGC | 168 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 23 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 1 |
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 Gilliam card?
It is card #280 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 Brooklyn Dodgers player.
Is the 1956 Topps Jim Gilliam 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.