1956 Topps #68 Chuck Stobbs
1956 Topps #68 Chuck Stobbs
About Chuck Stobbs
A left-handed pitcher out of Norfolk, Virginia's Granby High School, Chuck Stobbs (born July 2, 1929, in Wheeling, West Virginia; died 2008) was one of baseball's original "bonus babies," signed as a teenager by Red Sox scout Specs Toporcer in 1947 for a reported $50,000. He debuted with Boston that year and pitched 15 major-league seasons, splitting his career among the Red Sox (1947-51), Chicago White Sox (1952), Washington Senators/Nationals (1953-58 and again 1959-61), and St. Louis Cardinals (1958). His best years came in Washington, where he anchored the rotation of a perennial second-division club and won 15 games in 1956, the season pictured on this card. Fortunes reversed in 1957, when he led the American League in losses with 20. Overall he finished 107-130 with a 4.29 ERA and 897 strikeouts. Stobbs is best remembered for surrendering Mickey Mantle's estimated 565-foot blast at Griffith Stadium on April 17, 1953, long celebrated as the original "tape-measure" home run. Like other Series 1 cards, #68 exists with both the common white and 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 | 860 | 1 | 26 | 255 | 267 | 174 | 78 | 59 | 0 |
| SGC | 61 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 192 · White Back 668
SGC by variation: Gray Back 38 · Gray Back (Overprint - Black) 1 · White Back 22
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 Chuck Stobbs card?
It is card #68 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 Washington Nationals player.
Does the 1956 Topps Chuck Stobbs 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 Chuck Stobbs 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.