1956 Topps #18 Dick Donovan
1956 Topps #18 Dick Donovan
About Dick Donovan
Signed by the Boston Braves out of North Quincy (Mass.) High School, right-handed pitcher Dick Donovan debuted with the Braves in 1950 and, after brief stops in Boston and Detroit, found his footing over 15 major-league seasons (1950-1965) with the Braves, Tigers, White Sox, Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians. A control artist who worked with a sharp slider, he blossomed in Chicago: in 1957 he led the American League in winning percentage at .727 (16-6) and paced the circuit with 16 complete games. Donovan pitched in the 1959 World Series for the pennant-winning "Go-Go" White Sox against the Dodgers, losing Game 3 but earning the save in Game 5. He later won the 1961 AL ERA title at 2.40 with the expansion Senators and enjoyed his lone 20-win season in 1962 (20-10) with Cleveland, earning multiple All-Star selections along the way. Unusually strong at the plate for a pitcher, he hit 15 career home runs. Donovan finished 122-99 with a 3.67 ERA and 880 strikeouts. Fittingly for a card noted among collectors for an error, the back of this #18 misidentifies the right-hander as throwing left-handed; like other early-series 1956 Topps cards, it also exists with both the 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.
Throwing hand error error
The back lists Dick Donovan as throwing left; he threw right (TCDB).
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 845 | 0 | 14 | 240 | 262 | 180 | 88 | 61 | 0 |
| SGC | 72 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 2 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 228 · White Back 617
SGC by variation: Gray Back 41 · Gray Back (Overprint - Dorish) 1 · White Back 30
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 Donovan card?
It is card #18 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 Chicago White Sox player.
Does the 1956 Topps Dick Donovan 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 Donovan 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.