1956 Topps #35 Al Rosen
1956 Topps #35 Al Rosen
About Al Rosen
A hard-hitting third baseman and amateur boxer nicknamed "the Hebrew Hammer" (also "Flip"), Al Rosen began in pro ball in the early 1940s before four years of U.S. Navy service in the WWII Pacific theater, then tore through the minors — winning Texas League Player of the Year with Oklahoma City in 1947 — to reach the Cleveland Indians, his only major-league club (1947-1956). A four-time All-Star (1952-1955), Rosen led the American League in home runs in 1950 and 1953 and in RBI in 1952 and 1953. His 1953 season was one of the greatest ever by a third baseman: he batted .336 with 45 homers and 145 RBI, won the AL MVP unanimously — the first unanimous winner since Hank Greenberg in 1935 — and missed the Triple Crown only when he was ruled out at first base on his final at-bat, losing the batting title to Mickey Vernon's .337 by a fraction of a point. He was a reserve on Cleveland's 1948 World Series champions and retired with a .285 average, 192 home runs, and 717 RBI over 1,044 games. After playing he became a respected front-office executive, serving as president of the Yankees and later running the Astros and Giants, and was named 1987 National League Executive of the Year. This card carries the set's white/gray back-stock variation, the scarcer gray back commanding a premium.
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 | 1,098 | 3 | 24 | 216 | 321 | 264 | 137 | 133 | 0 |
| SGC | 120 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 36 | 3 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 295 · White Back 803
SGC by variation: Gray Back 57 · Gray Back (Overprint - Silvera) 1 · White Back 62
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 Rosen card?
It is card #35 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 Cleveland Indians player.
Does the 1956 Topps Al Rosen 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 Rosen 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.