1956 Topps #143 Jim Piersall
1956 Topps #143 Jim Piersall
About Jim Piersall
A center fielder signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1948 at age 18 out of Waterbury, Connecticut, Jim Piersall debuted in 1950 and played 17 major-league seasons (through 1967) for the Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, New York Mets, and Los Angeles/California Angels. He batted .272 with 1,604 hits, 104 home runs, and 591 RBI, earning two All-Star selections (1954, 1956) and two Gold Glove Awards (1958, 1961) for his brilliant defense — Casey Stengel called him among the best defensive outfielders he had ever seen. During his 1952 rookie year Piersall suffered a nervous breakdown, was hospitalized and diagnosed with manic depression (now bipolar disorder), and later chronicled his recovery in the bestselling 1955 autobiography "Fear Strikes Out" (with Al Hirshberg), adapted into a 1957 film starring Anthony Perkins that Piersall himself disowned. In the year of this card he hit .293 with 14 home runs and a league-leading 40 doubles. He is remembered too for running the bases backwards after his 100th career home run in 1963. This #143 card exists with both the scarcer white and more common gray back stock of Topps' 1956 second series.
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 | 929 | 1 | 16 | 222 | 225 | 200 | 136 | 128 | 1 |
| SGC | 109 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 33 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 858 · White Back 71
SGC by variation: Gray Back 101 · White Back 8
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 Piersall card?
It is card #143 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 Boston Red Sox player.
Does the 1956 Topps Jim Piersall 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 Piersall 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.