1956 Topps #20 Al Kaline
1956 Topps #20 Al Kaline
About Al Kaline
A right-handed right fielder from Baltimore, Al Kaline signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1953 as a $15,000 "bonus baby," jumping straight to the majors without a day in the minor leagues. He played all 22 of his big-league seasons (1953-1974) with Detroit. In 1955, at age 20, he won the American League batting title with a .340 average, making him the youngest batting champion in AL history. A model of durability and defense, Kaline was named to 18 All-Star Games and earned 10 Gold Gloves for his play in right field. He retired with a .297 average, 3,007 hits, 399 home runs, and 1,583 RBI, reaching the 3,000-hit milestone in 1974 as the 12th player to do so. In the 1968 World Series he hit .379 with two homers and eight RBI as the Tigers beat the Cardinals in seven games. Beloved as "Mr. Tiger" for his lifelong ties to the franchise, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980 on his first ballot. As a Series 1 card, #20 exists with both the common white and scarcer gray back stock.
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 | 4,351 | 2 | 40 | 393 | 637 | 890 | 760 | 1,616 | 13 |
| SGC | 1,430 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 102 | 180 | 268 | 821 | 30 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 1,287 · White Back 3,064
SGC by variation: Gray Back 649 · Gray Back (Overprint - Owens) 1 · White Back 780
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 Al Kaline card?
It is card #20 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 Detroit Tigers player.
Does the 1956 Topps Al Kaline 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 Al Kaline 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.