1956 Topps #129 Paul Martin
1956 Topps #129 Paul Martin
About Paul Martin
Paul Charles "Jake" Martin (born March 9, 1932, in Brownstown, Pennsylvania; died October 11, 2011, in San Diego) was a towering 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher and a genuine one-card wonder. A local scholastic legend from the Monongahela Valley, Martin signed a two-year "bonus baby" deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 on the advice of fellow Mon Valley native and former Pirate Ron Necciai, and the bonus rules of the era forced him straight onto the big-league roster with no minor-league seasoning. His entire major-league career consisted of seven games for the 1955 Pirates. He debuted on July 2, 1955, throwing two scoreless relief innings against the Brooklyn Dodgers, but his lone start three days later against the New York Giants unraveled quickly — he walked Alvin Dark, Willie Mays and Dusty Rhodes and hit Don Mueller without retiring a batter, taking the loss that stood as his only big-league decision. He finished 0-1 with a 14.14 ERA, 3 strikeouts and 17 walks in 7 innings before an arm injury (a torn elbow ligament, aggravated during winter ball) ended his mound career. Martin later noted that his brief stay was "long enough to get on a baseball card," and people still mailed him this 1956 Topps issue to sign. Card #129 is his rookie card and, like other second-series cards, exists with both white and gray back stock (the white back being the scarcer of the two).
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 704 | 3 | 16 | 184 | 182 | 178 | 81 | 60 | 0 |
| SGC | 55 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 638 · White Back 66
SGC by variation: Gray Back 46 · White Back 9
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 Paul Martin card?
It is card #129 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, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Paul Martin 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 Paul Martin 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.