1956 Topps #74 Jim King
1956 Topps #74 Jim King
About Jim King
James Hubert King (1932-2015), a left-handed-hitting outfielder from Elkins, Arkansas, was signed at age 17 out of the Class D Longhorn League by Cardinals scout Fred Hawn in 1950 and climbed through St. Louis's farm system before the Chicago Cubs took him in the 1954 Rule 5 draft. He reached the majors with the Cubs on April 17, 1955, and this 1956 Topps card captures his brief Chicago tenure (1955-1956) before stops with the Cardinals, Giants, and a return to the minors. His career revived after the expansion Washington Senators selected him in the 1960 draft; he spent 6½ seasons in Washington, longer than any of the other players that franchise drafted. King's finest year came in 1963, when he hit 24 home runs, and on his best day he became the only expansion-era Senator to hit for the cycle (May 1964). Over 11 seasons and 1,125 games he batted .240 with 699 hits, 117 home runs, and 401 RBI. Nicknamed "Sky King" after the TV serial as a nod to his well-documented fear of flying, he later returned to Arkansas and worked for a telephone company. This first-series card exists with both white and gray back stock, the gray being the scarcer of the two.
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 | 877 | 1 | 26 | 245 | 287 | 186 | 73 | 59 | 0 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 252 · White Back 625
SGC by variation: Gray Back 32 · Gray Back (Overprint - Campanella) 1 · White Back 26
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 King card?
It is card #74 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, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Jim King 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 King 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.