1956 Topps #328 Preston Ward
1956 Topps #328 Preston Ward
About Preston Ward
Preston Meyer Ward (1927-2013) was a left-handed-hitting, 6-foot-4 first baseman who entered pro ball in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system in 1944 at age sixteen and reached the majors with Brooklyn on April 20, 1948, where he served as a backup to Gil Hodges. After a second look in 1950, he missed the 1951 and 1952 seasons for military service during the Korean War before returning in 1953. Ward played nine big-league seasons (1948-1959) for the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Athletics, and it was in Pittsburgh that he found his fullest opportunity, taking over as the Pirates' regular first baseman in 1954. Across 744 games he batted .253 with 522 hits, 50 home runs, and 262 RBI, also seeing time in the outfield and at third base. His best year came in 1958, when he hit .284 with 118 hits in a season split between Cleveland and Kansas City. This card (#328) is a high-number card from the fourth series of the 1956 Topps set, issued as Ward was moving from the Pirates to the Indians that year.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 534 | 1 | 9 | 148 | 144 | 137 | 58 | 37 | 0 |
| SGC | 45 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 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 Preston Ward card?
It is card #328 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 Preston Ward 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.