1956 Topps #193 Vinegar Bend Mizell
1956 Topps #193 Vinegar Bend Mizell
About Vinegar Bend Mizell
A hard-throwing left-hander, Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell (1930-1999) was signed by St. Louis Cardinals scout Buddy Lewis for a $500 bonus after impressing at a tryout on his 1949 high-school graduation day in Leakesville, Mississippi. His nickname came from Vinegar Bend, the tiny Alabama town where he first learned to play. Mizell reached the majors with the Cardinals in 1952 and pitched nine seasons through 1962 for St. Louis (1952-1960), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1960-1961), and the New York Mets (1962), missing 1954 and 1955 for military service. He ranked among the National League's strikeout leaders early in his career and was selected as a 1959 NL All-Star. Traded to Pittsburgh in 1960, he went 13-5 to help the Pirates win the pennant and the World Series over the Yankees, though he took the loss as the Game 3 starter. Over his career he compiled a 90-88 record, a 3.85 ERA, and 918 strikeouts. After baseball he served three terms as a Republican U.S. congressman from North Carolina (1969-1975). This 1956 Topps card, issued during his Cardinals years, lists him under his given name "Wilmer Mizell."
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 544 | 1 | 6 | 152 | 163 | 110 | 69 | 41 | 2 |
| SGC | 36 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 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 Vinegar Bend Mizell card?
It is card #193 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 St. Louis Cardinals player.
Is the 1956 Topps Vinegar Bend Mizell 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.