1956 Topps #212 Johnny Temple
1956 Topps #212 Johnny Temple
About Johnny Temple
Johnny Temple was a scrappy second baseman and leadoff man who anchored the Cincinnati infield through the mid-1950s. Born in 1927 in Lexington, North Carolina, he signed with the Reds organization in 1948 for $150 a month after being one of the few players to show up at a tryout camp in Mooresville, North Carolina. He reached the majors with Cincinnati in 1952 and played 13 big-league seasons, spending most of his career with the Reds (1952-1959, 1964) before stints with the Cleveland Indians (1960-1961), Baltimore Orioles (1962), and Houston Colt .45s (1962-1963). A prototypical table-setter who walked more often than he struck out (posting a .363 on-base percentage), he paired with shortstop Roy McMillan from 1954 to 1959 to form one of the National League's finest double-play combinations of the era. Temple was a six-time All-Star, earning his first selection in 1956 — the same season pictured on this card — when he led the NL with 632 at-bats and started the mid-summer classic at Griffith Stadium. Over 1,420 games he batted .284 with 1,484 hits, 22 home runs, 395 RBI, and 140 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1965. Temple died in 1994.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 676 | 2 | 13 | 202 | 204 | 147 | 67 | 41 | 0 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 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 Temple card?
It is card #212 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 Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Is the 1956 Topps Johnny Temple 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.