1960 Topps #396 Steve Bilko
Cards #375-440 were printed on two back stocks, white and gray. White is the scarcer of the two, and the difference is the tint of the cardboard on the reverse — it is a stock variation, not a design change, so both backs read identically.
About Steve Bilko
Steve Bilko signed with the St. Louis Cardinals at 16 out of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and finally stuck as their first baseman in 1953, batting cleanup behind Stan Musial for 21 homers and 84 RBIs. He never matched that big-league season again, but out west he became a legend: with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League from 1955-1957, "Stout Steve" — nicknamed for his 250-plus-pound frame — won three straight PCL MVP awards, capped by a 1956 Triple Crown (.360, 55 HR, 164 RBI) for a 107-win pennant winner. His fame ran deep enough that Nat Hiken reportedly borrowed his name for Phil Silvers' Sgt. Bilko. After trials with the Cubs, Redlegs and Dodgers, Detroit drafted him following a big 1959 at Triple-A Spokane; this 1960 Topps card catches him platooning with young Norm Cash, fighting to keep his Tigers average above .200. Card #396 comes from the scarce high-number Series 5, printed on both white and gray stock, with the white-back version the tougher find.
Sources: Wikipedia · SABR BioProject · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 236 | 0 | 18 | 84 | 76 | 30 | 9 | 19 | 0 |
| SGC | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-08-20. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Neither grader separates the white and gray back stocks on this card, so the counts below cover both. The Venezuelan issue, the 1960 Topps Tattoos and Bazooka are separate products and are not counted here.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Live auctions Buy It Now Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
Team card: #72 Detroit Tigers
More Detroit Tigers cards:
- #6 Lou Berberet
- #22 Rocky Bridges
- #33 Tom Morgan
- #50 Al Kaline
- #85 Frank Lary
- #118 Bob Bruce
- #141 Jim Proctor
- #152 Gail Harris
- #161 Ray Narleski
- #171 Johnny Groth
- #186 Dave Sisler
- #201 Larry Osborne
- #214 Jimmie Dykes
- #245 Eddie Yost
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1960 Topps #396 card?
It is card #396 of the 572-card 1960 Topps Baseball set, picturing Steve Bilko.
Does #396 come with a white or a gray back?
Both. Cards #375-440 were printed on two back stocks and white is the scarcer of the two. Neither PSA nor SGC separates them in its population report, so the graded counts on this page cover both stocks together.
How many cards are in the 1960 Topps Baseball set?
572 cards, numbered 1-572, issued in seven series - the last Topps flagship printed entirely horizontally. Cards #375-440 exist on two back stocks, white and gray, which collectors chasing every printed variety count as 638 pieces of cardboard in all.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Cardboard Connection, the PSA price guide, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-13.