1956 Topps #321 Jim Konstanty
1956 Topps #321 Jim Konstanty
About Jim Konstanty
Casimir James "Jim" Konstanty was a right-handed relief pitcher born March 2, 1917, in Strykersville, New York. A four-sport letterman at Syracuse University, he worked as a physical-education teacher and pitched semi-pro ball before debuting in the majors on June 18, 1944, with the Cincinnati Reds. After stops with Cincinnati and the Boston Braves (1946), he settled with the Philadelphia Phillies (1948-1954), where he became one of the game's first bullpen stars. In 1950 he anchored the pennant-winning "Whiz Kids," going 16-7 with 22 saves and a 2.66 ERA over a then-record 74 appearances, and was named National League MVP - the first relief pitcher so honored in either league. A 1950 All-Star, he made a surprise start in Game 1 of that year's World Series against the Yankees, scattering four hits over eight innings in a 1-0 loss. He later pitched for the New York Yankees (1954-1956), the club shown on this Series 4 high-number card, and finished with St. Louis in 1956, closing a career record of 66-48. Teammate Dick Sisler nicknamed him "Yimca" for looking and acting like a YMCA instructor. Konstanty died June 11, 1976.
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 | 768 | 1 | 11 | 204 | 238 | 175 | 74 | 65 | 0 |
| SGC | 74 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 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 Konstanty card?
It is card #321 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 New York Yankees player.
Is the 1956 Topps Jim Konstanty 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.