1956 Topps #70 Jim Rivera
1956 Topps #70 Jim Rivera
About Jim Rivera
Manuel Joseph "Jungle Jim" Rivera was a switch-hitting outfielder whose path to the majors was among the most unlikely of his era. Born July 22, 1921, in New York City and raised in Spanish Harlem, he was orphaned young and served five years in an Atlanta federal penitentiary before Atlanta Crackers owner Earl Mann signed him in 1949. After tearing through the minors—including a Pacific Coast League-leading .352 at Seattle in 1951—the White Sox purchased his contract, and he debuted in 1952. Over ten seasons with the St. Louis Browns (1952), Chicago White Sox (1952-1961), and Kansas City Athletics (1961), the speedy Rivera batted .256 with 83 home runs, 422 RBI and 160 stolen bases. He led the American League in triples (16) in 1953 and in stolen bases (25) in 1955. A spark plug for the pennant-winning 1959 "Go-Go" White Sox, he is best remembered for his over-the-shoulder catch with the bases loaded in Game 5 of the World Series, preserving a 1-0 win. A Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter tagged him "Jungle Jim" in the mid-1950s for his exuberant, unorthodox fielding and outsized personality. As a Series-1 card, #70 exists in both the common white-back and 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 | 675 | 0 | 11 | 166 | 190 | 161 | 76 | 71 | 0 |
| SGC | 54 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 203 · White Back 472
SGC by variation: Gray Back 25 · Gray Back (Overprint - Pirates) 1 · White Back 28
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 Rivera card?
It is card #70 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 White Sox player.
Does the 1956 Topps Jim Rivera 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 Rivera 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.