1956 Topps #122 Willard Nixon
1956 Topps #122 Willard Nixon
About Willard Nixon
A right-handed pitcher out of Taylorsville, Georgia, Willard Nixon starred at Auburn University before the Boston Red Sox signed him in 1948, reportedly beating out scouts from more than a dozen clubs. He debuted on July 7, 1950, and spent his entire nine-season major-league career (1950-1958) with Boston, going 69-72 with a 4.39 ERA, 616 strikeouts, 51 complete games and nine shutouts across 225 appearances. Though his overall record was modest, Nixon earned the nickname "Yankee Killer" for repeatedly beating baseball's dominant team of the era, including a stretch of consecutive victories over New York in 1955 and a 1-0 two-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium; he also dueled Don Larsen for eleven scoreless innings in 1956. An above-average hitting pitcher, he batted .242 with two home runs and 41 RBIs. He was later inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (1993). As a second-series card, #122 exists with both white and gray back stock, the white being the scarcer of the two.
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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 689 | 0 | 26 | 183 | 187 | 152 | 77 | 64 | 0 |
| SGC | 62 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 13 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 611 · White Back 78
SGC by variation: Gray Back 50 · White Back 12
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 Willard Nixon card?
It is card #122 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 Boston Red Sox player.
Does the 1956 Topps Willard Nixon 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 Willard Nixon 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.