1956 Topps #148 Alvin Dark
1956 Topps #148 Alvin Dark
About Alvin Dark
A standout multi-sport athlete at LSU and Southwestern Louisiana Institute, Alvin Dark signed with the Boston Braves in July 1946 after serving as a Marine officer in World War II. The right-handed shortstop earned National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1948, batting .322 to help Boston win the pennant, then was traded to the New York Giants (with Eddie Stanky) after the 1949 season. As the Giants' captain, Dark started at short on their 1951 pennant winner and 1954 World Series champions, sweeping Cleveland; he opened the ninth inning of the 1951 tie-breaker with the single that began the rally to Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." A three-time All-Star (1951, 1952, 1954), he hit .289 with 2,089 hits, 126 home runs, and 757 RBI over 14 seasons. Nicknamed "Blackie" for his dark hair and later the "Swamp Fox," Dark went on to manage five franchises, winning the 1974 World Series with Oakland. This card shows Dark with the Giants and, like other second-series issues, exists with both scarcer white and more common 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 | 926 | 1 | 25 | 235 | 269 | 197 | 114 | 83 | 2 |
| SGC | 78 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 863 · White Back 63
SGC by variation: Gray Back 73 · White Back 5
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 Alvin Dark card?
It is card #148 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 New York Giants player.
Does the 1956 Topps Alvin Dark 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 Alvin Dark 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.