1956 Topps #170 Bill Virdon
1956 Topps #170 Bill Virdon
About Bill Virdon
Signed out of a 1950 tryout by Yankees scout Tom Greenwade for an $1,800 bonus, Bill Virdon began in the Class D KOM League before New York traded him to St. Louis in the deal that sent Enos Slaughter to the Yankees. The left-handed-hitting center fielder debuted with the Cardinals in 1955 and was named National League Rookie of the Year after batting .281 with 17 home runs and 69 RBI. This 1956 Topps card pictures him as a Cardinal, but after a slow start he was dealt to Pittsburgh on May 17, 1956, and spent the rest of his career there (1956-1965, plus 1968). Nicknamed "The Quail" by Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince for his knack for soft, dropping hits, Virdon won a Gold Glove in 1962 and starred in center for the 1960 World Series champion Pirates; his hard grounder in Game Seven took a bad hop and struck shortstop Tony Kubek in the throat, helping spark Pittsburgh's title-winning rally. He hit .267 with 1,596 hits, 91 home runs, and 502 RBI over 12 seasons, then managed the Pirates, Yankees, Astros, and Expos, twice earning Sporting News Manager of the Year honors (1974, 1980). Virdon died in 2021 at age 90. Like other #1-180 cards in the set, #170 exists with both the 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 | 908 | 1 | 18 | 224 | 257 | 202 | 118 | 88 | 0 |
| SGC | 71 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 828 · White Back 80
SGC by variation: Gray Back 65 · White Back 6
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 Bill Virdon card?
It is card #170 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 Bill Virdon 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 Bill Virdon 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.