1956 Topps #37 Alex Grammas
1956 Topps #37 Alex Grammas
About Alex Grammas
Alex Grammas, a slick-fielding shortstop of Greek descent from Birmingham, Alabama, graduated from Mississippi State University and signed his first professional contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1949. After minor-league stops that included leading Southern Association and American Association shortstops in fielding, he was acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals and reached the majors in 1954. Over ten big-league seasons (1954-1963) with the Cardinals, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Chicago Cubs, Grammas built his reputation on his glove, serving as St. Louis's starting shortstop in 1954, 1955, and 1959 and drawing comparisons to a young Phil Rizzuto; in 1955 he led the National League in fielding average. He was a career .247 hitter with 512 hits, 12 home runs, and 163 RBI over 913 games, finishing with a .969 fielding mark. After his playing days he became a respected third-base coach, most notably under Sparky Anderson during Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" era, earning World Series rings as a coach with the 1975 Reds and the 1984 Detroit Tigers, and he managed the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976-1977. This card is from the set's first series, printed with both the common white-back and the 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 | 900 | 2 | 34 | 272 | 275 | 173 | 89 | 55 | 0 |
| SGC | 65 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 233 · White Back 667
SGC by variation: Gray Back 33 · Gray Back (Overprint - Pope) 1 · White Back 31
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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More St. Louis Cardinals cards
- Ken Boyer
- Nelson Burbrink
- Wally Moon
- Luis Arroyo
- Harvey Haddix
- Larry Jackson
- St. Louis Cardinals Team
- Joe Frazier
- Red Schoendienst
- Bill Virdon
- Vinegar Bend Mizell
- Tom Poholsky
- Rip Repulski
- Bill Sarni
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Alex Grammas card?
It is card #37 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.
Does the 1956 Topps Alex Grammas 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 Alex Grammas 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.