1956 Topps #56 Dale Long
1956 Topps #56 Dale Long
About Dale Long
Richard Dale Long (1926-1991) was a 6-foot-4 left-handed first baseman who turned down a football scholarship offer from the Green Bay Packers to pursue baseball, working through six minor-league seasons — including a Pacific Coast League MVP award in 1953 — before establishing himself with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over 10 major-league seasons (1951, 1955-1963) with the Pirates, Browns, Cubs, Giants, Senators, and Yankees, he batted .267 with 805 hits, 132 home runs, and 467 RBI across 1,013 games. His signature feat came in 1956, the year of this card: from May 19 to May 28 he homered in eight consecutive games, collecting 15 hits and 17 RBI and setting a major-league record that broke the old mark of six straight games; it has since been only matched (by Don Mattingly in 1987 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993), never topped, and he remains the sole NL holder. That season he was also named the National League's starting first baseman for the 1956 All-Star Game, his lone All-Star selection. In 1958 with the Cubs he became the majors' first left-handed-throwing catcher in more than half a century, appearing behind the plate in two games at Wrigley Field. He later earned a World Series ring as a reserve with the 1962 champion Yankees. Like all Series 1 cards, #56 exists with both 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 | 789 | 1 | 16 | 178 | 250 | 194 | 86 | 64 | 0 |
| SGC | 70 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 227 · White Back 562
SGC by variation: Gray Back 43 · White Back 27
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 Dale Long card?
It is card #56 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Does the 1956 Topps Dale Long 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 Dale Long 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.