1956 Topps #157 Dick Brodowski
1956 Topps #157 Dick Brodowski
About Dick Brodowski
A hard-throwing right-hander from Bayonne, New Jersey, Dick Brodowski was signed by Boston Red Sox scout Bill McCarren in 1951 out of high school, originally as a third baseman before he was converted to pitcher during a dominant Class D season at Marion, Ohio (21-5, 2.60 ERA). He reached the majors quickly, debuting for the Red Sox on June 15, 1952, at age 19, and turned heads that summer with a four-hit complete-game win over the pennant-bound New York Yankees. His momentum was interrupted by two years of U.S. Army service at Fort Dix during the Korean War period, costing him the 1953 and 1954 seasons. Traded to the Washington Senators in November 1955, he pitched for Washington in 1956-57 before finishing with the Cleveland Indians in 1958-59, making his final big-league appearance on July 4, 1959. Over six seasons and 72 games, Brodowski went 9-11 with a 4.76 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and five saves in 215-2/3 innings. As card #157 in the second series, his Topps issue is found with both the scarcer white back stock and the more common gray back among cards #1-180. Brodowski later worked in insurance and corporate security, and died in Lynn, Massachusetts, on January 14, 2019, at age 86.
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 | 765 | 1 | 20 | 198 | 217 | 174 | 81 | 74 | 0 |
| SGC | 52 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 721 · White Back 44
SGC by variation: Gray Back 48 · White Back 4
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 Dick Brodowski card?
It is card #157 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 Dick Brodowski 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 Dick Brodowski 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.