1956 Topps #171 Jim Wilson
1956 Topps #171 Jim Wilson
About Jim Wilson
A right-handed pitcher born in San Diego in 1922, Jim Wilson signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1943 and reached the majors in 1945, only to have his career nearly end that August when a Hank Greenberg line drive fractured his skull; surgeons removed bone fragments and one doctor declared he would never pitch again, yet he returned in 1946. Over 12 big-league seasons he pitched for the Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox, finishing 86-89 with a 4.01 ERA and 692 strikeouts. His signature moment came on June 12, 1954, when he threw the first no-hitter in Milwaukee County Stadium history, blanking the Philadelphia Phillies and future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts 2-0. A three-time All-Star (1954 for the National League, then 1955 and 1956 for the American League), Wilson joined the Orioles when manager Paul Richards purchased his contract in April 1955, the tenure captured on this 1956 Topps card. After retiring he became an influential scout — signing future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer for Baltimore — and in 1974 was named the first Executive Director of the Major League Scouting Bureau. Like other numbers in the set's second series, card #171 exists with both scarcer white and more common gray back stock. He died in 1986.
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 | 744 | 0 | 14 | 195 | 207 | 171 | 91 | 66 | 0 |
| SGC | 57 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 673 · White Back 71
SGC by variation: Gray Back 49 · 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 Wilson card?
It is card #171 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 Baltimore Orioles player.
Does the 1956 Topps Jim Wilson 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 Wilson 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.