1956 Topps #90 Cincinnati Redlegs Team
1956 Topps #90 Cincinnati Redlegs Team
About Cincinnati Redlegs Team
Card #90 pictures the Cincinnati "Redlegs," the name the century-old franchise adopted in 1953 when, at the height of Cold War McCarthyism, the club distanced its traditional "Reds" nickname from the political connotation of the word "red"; the original name was restored in 1959. The team card captures a slugging Cincinnati club managed by Birdie Tebbetts and playing at Crosley Field. In 1955 the Redlegs went 75–79 to finish fifth in the National League, 23½ games behind the pennant-winning and World Series champion Brooklyn Dodgers. Their identity was raw power: first baseman Ted Kluszewski hit .314 with 47 home runs and 113 RBIs (after leading the NL with 49 homers in 1954), while Wally Post (.309, 40 HR, 109 RBI) and Gus Bell (.308, 27 HR, 104 RBI) gave Cincinnati one of the game's most fearsome lineups. Kluszewski, catcher Smoky Burgess, and pitcher Joe Nuxhall all represented the Redlegs at the 1955 All-Star Game. Like other cards in the set's first series, #90 exists with both the common white and scarcer gray back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia
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 | 1,595 | 1 | 22 | 274 | 384 | 367 | 295 | 250 | 2 |
| SGC | 173 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 23 | 35 | 38 | 60 | 1 |
PSA by variation: No Date, Name Center-Gray Back 267 · No Date, Name Center-White Back 453 · No Date, Name Left-Gray Back 123 · No Date, Name Left-White Back 335 · With Date-Gray Back 1 · With Date-White Back 416
SGC by variation: Dated 1955 3 · Dated 1955 White Back 21 · Gray Back 10 · Gray Back, Name Centered 8 · Name at Left 3 · Name Centered 2 · Name Centered Gray Back 16 · Name Centered White Back 30 · Name Left 1 · Name Left Gray Back 7 · Name Left White Back 14 · No Date, Name at Left 6 · No Date, Name Centered 5 · Team Card 1 · White Back 5 · White Back, Dated 1955 16 · White Back, Name Centered 5 · White Back, Name Left 10 · White Back, No Date, Name at Left 1 · White Back, With Date 1 · With Date 7 · With Date, Name at Left 1
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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More Cincinnati Redlegs cards
- Ted Kluszewski
- Rudy Minarcin
- Art Fowler
- Ray Jablonski
- Roy McMillan
- Al Silvera
- Wally Post
- Gus Bell
- Joe Black
- Smoky Burgess
- Johnny Temple
- Joe Nuxhall
- Bud Podbielan
- Hersh Freeman
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Cincinnati Redlegs Team card?
It is card #90 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 Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Does the 1956 Topps Cincinnati Redlegs Team have front variations?
Yes - this first-series team card exists in three front layouts: dated 1955, no date with the name centered, and no date with the name at the left.
Does the 1956 Topps Cincinnati Redlegs Team 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 Cincinnati Redlegs Team 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.