1956 Topps #209 Max Surkont
1956 Topps #209 Max Surkont
About Max Surkont
Matthew Constantine "Max" Surkont was a right-handed pitcher born June 16, 1922, in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to Polish immigrant parents. As a teenager in 1937 he told Cardinals scout Pop Kelchner he was 18 and, after just a few pitches, earned a professional contract with a $50 bonus. He spent roughly nine years in the minors and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before debuting in the majors with the Chicago White Sox on April 19, 1949. Over nine big-league seasons he pitched for the White Sox, Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Giants, compiling a 61-76 record, a 4.38 ERA, and 571 strikeouts with seven shutouts across 236 appearances. His defining moment came on May 25, 1953, when he struck out eight consecutive Cincinnati batters, a modern major-league record that stood until Tom Seaver fanned ten straight in 1970. Traded to Pittsburgh before the 1954 season, Surkont was the Pirates hurler pictured on this 1956 Topps card, though he struggled during his Pittsburgh tenure before finishing his career in 1957.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 615 | 1 | 17 | 189 | 182 | 108 | 73 | 45 | 0 |
| SGC | 51 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 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 Max Surkont card?
It is card #209 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Is the 1956 Topps Max Surkont 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.