1956 Topps #87 Dean Stone
1956 Topps #87 Dean Stone
About Dean Stone
Darragh "Dean" Stone was a 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher born September 1, 1930, in Moline, Illinois, who grew up in the Quad Cities and signed with the Washington Senators out of a tryout school in 1949 after the Chicago Cubs released him following a hand injury. He reached the majors with Washington in 1953 and pitched eight big-league seasons through 1963, also seeing time with the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Colt .45s, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles, finishing 29-39 with a 4.47 ERA and 380 strikeouts. His signature moment came as a 1954 All-Star, chosen as an injury replacement: entering the eighth inning at Cleveland, he was credited with the victory without ever retiring a batter, gunning down Red Schoendienst attempting to steal home before Larry Doby's pinch-hit homer sparked the American League to an 11-9 win. He remains the only pitcher in All-Star history to earn a win without recording an out. This 1956 Topps card (#87) exists with both the more common white-back and the scarcer gray-back printing. Stone died August 21, 2018, at age 87.
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 | 824 | 2 | 19 | 218 | 272 | 183 | 76 | 54 | 0 |
| SGC | 56 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 188 · White Back 636
SGC by variation: Gray Back 29 · Gray Back (Overprint - Smith) 1 · White Back 26
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 Dean Stone card?
It is card #87 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 Dean Stone 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 Dean Stone 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.