1956 Topps #159 Clint Courtney
1956 Topps #159 Clint Courtney
About Clint Courtney
Clinton Dawson "Scrap Iron" Courtney was a tough, left-handed-batting catcher signed off the family farm in 1947 by Yankees scout Atley Donald and developed in the minors before reaching the majors with New York in 1951. Traded to the St. Louis Browns, he became their starting catcher and won The Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year in 1952, hitting .286 in 119 games; he is also widely regarded as the first big-league catcher to wear eyeglasses behind the plate. Over eleven seasons (1951-1961), spent entirely in the American League with the Yankees, Browns/Orioles, White Sox, Senators, and Athletics, he batted .268 with 750 hits, 38 home runs, and 313 RBI in 946 games. On this 1956 card he is pictured with Washington (the Senators/Nationals), where he was the regular catcher from 1955 to 1959. Nicknamed "Scrap Iron" after playing a 1952 exhibition covered in bandages from a fall in a rail yard, the confrontational Courtney was famous for two brawls tied to Billy Martin and the Yankees, and in 1960 he became the first catcher to use an oversized "Big Bertha" mitt to handle Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball. He died of a heart attack in 1975 at age 48 while managing the Richmond Braves. Like all 1956 second-series cards, #159 exists with both white and gray back stock (white being the scarcer).
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 | 582 | 0 | 7 | 132 | 152 | 136 | 66 | 89 | 0 |
| SGC | 56 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 13 | 16 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 525 · White Back 57
SGC by variation: Gray Back 45 · White Back 11
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 Clint Courtney card?
It is card #159 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 Clint Courtney 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 Clint Courtney 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.