1956 Topps #86 Ray Jablonski
1956 Topps #86 Ray Jablonski
About Ray Jablonski
A power-hitting third baseman from Chicago, Ray Jablonski entered pro ball with the Boston Red Sox organization in 1947 after Army service, then was claimed by St. Louis in the 1948 minor-league draft; he won a Piedmont League Triple Crown at Winston-Salem in 1951 before reaching the majors. He debuted with the Cardinals in 1953 and starred immediately, batting .268 with a then-franchise-rookie-record 21 home runs and 112 RBI to finish third in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Jim Gilliam and Harvey Haddix. In 1954 he was named the NL's starting third baseman in the All-Star Game and drove in 104 runs, though his shaky glove (a league-high 34 errors) helped push him out of St. Louis. Nicknamed "Jabbo" (or "Jolting Jabbo") for his first name and explosive bat, he was traded to the Cincinnati Redlegs after 1954 and appears here as a Redleg. Over eight seasons (1953-1960) with the Cardinals, Redlegs, Giants and Athletics, he hit .268 with 687 hits, 83 home runs and 438 RBI. This #86 card is a double-print and exists with both the common white and scarcer gray back stock of Topps' 1956 first series.
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.
Double Print
An uncut Series-1 sheet (110 cards, 10x11) shows 20 cards were double-printed - modestly more plentiful than their series-mates. The list happily includes #30 Jackie Robinson and #31 Hank Aaron. The only print-quantity designation in the set (there is no recognized short-print run).
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,068 | 1 | 38 | 328 | 325 | 206 | 100 | 70 | 0 |
| SGC | 89 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 23 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 2 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 252 · White Back 816
SGC by variation: Gray Back 51 · Gray Back (Overprint - Piersall) 1 · White Back 37
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 Ray Jablonski card?
It is card #86 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.
Does the 1956 Topps Ray Jablonski 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 Ray Jablonski 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.