1956 Topps #259 Sam Jones
1956 Topps #259 Sam Jones
About Sam Jones
Samuel "Toothpick" Sam Jones (1925-1971) was a hard-throwing, wild right-handed pitcher who broke in with the Negro leagues, starting in 1946 with the Oakland Larks of the West Coast Baseball Association and pitching for the Cleveland Buckeyes before the Cleveland Indians gave him brief looks in 1951-52. Traded to the Chicago Cubs, he authored one of the game's landmark moments on May 12, 1955, becoming the first African American pitcher to throw a major-league no-hitter, blanking Pittsburgh 4-0 at Wrigley Field after walking the bases loaded and striking out the side in the ninth. Over 12 seasons (1951-64) with the Indians, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants, Tigers, and Orioles he went 102-101 with a 3.59 ERA and 1,376 strikeouts, twice made the All-Star team (1955, 1959), and led the NL in strikeouts in 1955, 1956, and 1958. His finest year came with the 1959 San Francisco Giants, when he tied for the league lead in wins (21) and led the NL in ERA (2.83) en route to being named Pitcher of the Year. Nicknamed "Toothpick" for the flat toothpick he perpetually chewed on the mound, Jones was recognized as one of the "Black Aces" — Black pitchers with a 20-win season. This is his 1956 Topps card #259, a Series 3 issue picturing him with the Cubs.
Sources: Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 563 | 1 | 11 | 153 | 155 | 129 | 67 | 47 | 0 |
| SGC | 42 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 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 Sam Jones card?
It is card #259 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 Chicago Cubs player.
Is the 1956 Topps Sam Jones 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.