1956 Topps #175 Del Crandall
1956 Topps #175 Del Crandall
About Del Crandall
Del Crandall was a durable, defense-first catcher signed out of Fullerton, California by Boston Braves scout Johnny Moore in 1948, turning down a larger Dodgers bonus to protect his eligibility. He reached the majors in 1949 at age 19 and, less than four months past his birthday, became the youngest starting catcher in big-league history. After two years in the Army (1951-1952, with service in Japan), he returned to reclaim the job and spent the heart of a 16-season career (1949-1966) with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves before finishing with the Giants, Pirates, and Indians. An 11-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner (1958-1960, 1962), Crandall was widely regarded as the best defensive catcher of his era, handling Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, and Bob Buhl. He anchored Milwaukee's 1957 World Series champions, who beat the Yankees, and its 1958 NL pennant winners. He batted .254 with 179 home runs and 657 RBI, later managed the Brewers and Mariners, and was elected to the Braves Hall of Fame in 2003. This #175 card exists with both the scarcer white and common gray Series 2 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 | 940 | 1 | 25 | 268 | 269 | 211 | 93 | 73 | 0 |
| SGC | 76 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 875 · White Back 65
SGC by variation: Gray Back 69 · White Back 7
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 Milwaukee Braves cards
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- Hank Aaron
- Chuck Tanner
- Ray Crone
- Milwaukee Braves Team
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- Bob Roselli
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- Frank Torre
- Bill Bruton
- Lew Burdette
- Bob Buhl
- George Crowe
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Del Crandall card?
It is card #175 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 Milwaukee Braves player.
Does the 1956 Topps Del Crandall 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 Del Crandall 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.