1956 Topps #298 Johnny Schmitz
1956 Topps #298 Johnny Schmitz
About Johnny Schmitz
A left-handed pitcher from Wausau, Wisconsin, Johnny Schmitz was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1938 before the Chicago Cubs acquired him, and he debuted with Chicago on September 6, 1941. His career was interrupted by U.S. Navy service in the Pacific during World War II (1943-1945), but he returned to become one of the National League's steadier arms. Schmitz was a two-time All-Star (1946 and 1948): in 1946 he led the NL in strikeouts with 135 while posting a 2.61 ERA, and in 1948 he won 18 games (18-13, 2.64 ERA) for a last-place Cubs club. Over 13 seasons he pitched in 366 games for the Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, compiling a 93-114 record with a 3.55 ERA and 746 strikeouts. He was nicknamed "Bear Tracks" for the shuffling way he walked to the mound and his size-14 feet. This 1956 Topps card is a fourth-series high number that captures Schmitz late in his career with the Red Sox; he made his final major-league appearance that September before retiring, and he later returned to Wausau, where he died in 2011.
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 | 819 | 1 | 27 | 288 | 240 | 164 | 61 | 38 | 0 |
| SGC | 53 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 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 Johnny Schmitz card?
It is card #298 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.
Is the 1956 Topps Johnny Schmitz 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.