1956 Topps #207 Jim Small
1956 Topps #207 Jim Small
About Jim Small
Jim Small (James Arthur Patrick Small), born March 8, 1937, in Portland, Oregon, was a left-handed-hitting outfielder signed by the Detroit Tigers as a free-agent "bonus baby" in 1955 out of Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California. Because of the era's bonus rule, the Tigers were required to keep the 18-year-old on their major-league roster for both 1955 and 1956, and he made his big-league debut on June 22, 1955. Small collected his first major-league hit off future Hall of Famer Bob Lemon and enjoyed his best season in 1956, batting .319 in 58 games. Over four seasons (Detroit 1955-1957 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1958), he appeared in 108 games as an outfielder, pinch-hitter, and pinch-runner, hitting .270 with 38 hits, no home runs, and 10 RBI before his final game on September 27, 1958. He later spent time in the minors, where the Athletics briefly tried converting him to a pitcher, and his playing career ended after the 1962 season. This 1956 Topps card, #207, is Jim Small's rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 649 | 0 | 15 | 196 | 200 | 131 | 65 | 42 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
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 Small card?
It is card #207 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 Detroit Tigers player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Jim Small 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.