1956 Topps #104 Bob Lennon
1956 Topps #104 Bob Lennon
About Bob Lennon
Robert Albert "Archie" Lennon (1928-2005), a left-handed-hitting outfielder born in Brooklyn, signed with his hometown Dodgers in 1945 at age 16 after a workout at Ebbets Field. His nickname came from teammates who thought his Brooklyn accent matched a character on the radio comedy "Duffy's Tavern." Lennon became a minor-league slugging legend: for the 1954 Nashville Vols of the Southern Association he won the Triple Crown with a league-record 64 home runs, 161 RBIs and a .345 average, also leading the loop in runs (139) and hits (210). That season earned him a late-1954 callup to the pennant-winning New York Giants. Big-league success never followed — across trials with the Giants (1954, 1956) and Cubs (1957) he hit just .165 with one homer, struck off Sal Maglie on April 30, 1957. He belted 278 minor-league homers over 16 years. This second-series card exists with both scarcer white and common gray backs.
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 | 815 | 1 | 18 | 217 | 224 | 155 | 122 | 78 | 0 |
| SGC | 64 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 722 · White Back 93
SGC by variation: Gray Back 49 · White Back 15
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 Bob Lennon card?
It is card #104 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 Bob Lennon 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 Bob Lennon 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.