1956 Topps #40 Bob Turley
1956 Topps #40 Bob Turley
About Bob Turley
Signed by the St. Louis Browns out of high school in 1948, right-hander Bob Turley reached the majors with the Browns in 1951 and pitched 12 big-league seasons (1951-1963) for the Browns/Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox. A hard thrower whose fastball earned him the nickname "Bullet Bob," he led the American League in strikeouts in 1954 (185) and was a three-time All-Star (1954, 1955, 1958). Traded to the Yankees after the 1954 season, he peaked in 1958, going 21-7 to lead the AL in wins and complete games and winning the Cy Young Award—then a single honor for both leagues—by a single vote over Warren Spahn. That October he was named World Series MVP, capping the Yankees' comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Milwaukee Braves with a Game 5 shutout, a save in Game 6, and relief work to win Game 7. For his career Turley went 101-85 with a 3.64 ERA and 1,265 strikeouts. He was not elected to the Hall of Fame. This card (#40, series 1) exists with both white and gray back stock, the gray back being the scarcer of the two.
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 | 1,094 | 1 | 11 | 276 | 321 | 238 | 142 | 105 | 0 |
| SGC | 111 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 286 · White Back 808
SGC by variation: Gray Back 51 · White Back 60
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 Turley card?
It is card #40 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 Yankees player.
Does the 1956 Topps Bob Turley 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 Turley 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.