1956 Topps #119 Larry Jackson
1956 Topps #119 Larry Jackson
About Larry Jackson
A Boise, Idaho native who starred at Boise High School and Boise Junior College, right-handed pitcher Larry Jackson signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1951 and announced himself in the minors with a dominant 1952 for Fresno, going 28-4 with 351 strikeouts. He reached the majors with St. Louis in 1955 and pitched 14 seasons for the Cardinals (1955-1962), Chicago Cubs (1963-1966), and Philadelphia Phillies (1966-1968). A durable workhorse nicknamed "Cocky," Jackson earned four National League All-Star selections (1957, 1958, 1960, and 1963). His finest year came in 1964 with the Cubs, when he went 24-11 with a 3.14 ERA and led the majors in wins while finishing runner-up to Dean Chance in Cy Young voting; that season he also set a big-league record for pitchers with 109 total chances without an error. Over his career he compiled a 194-183 record, 3.40 ERA, 1,709 strikeouts, and 37 shutouts across 558 games. This is Jackson's rookie-era card, and like other second-series 1956 issues it exists with both scarcer white and common gray back stock. After retiring he returned to Idaho and served four terms as a Republican in the state House of Representatives, even running for governor in 1978, before his death from cancer in 1990 at age 59.
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 | 904 | 0 | 19 | 213 | 249 | 234 | 106 | 83 | 0 |
| SGC | 67 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 832 · White Back 72
SGC by variation: Gray Back 59 · 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 Larry Jackson card?
It is card #119 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 St. Louis Cardinals player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Larry Jackson 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 Larry Jackson 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.