1956 Topps #57 Duke Maas
1956 Topps #57 Duke Maas
About Duke Maas
Duane Frederick "Duke" Maas (1929-1976) was a right-handed pitcher from Utica, Michigan, who earned this rookie card in the 1956 Topps set. A high-school coach's tip brought Detroit Tigers scout "Wish" Egan to a tryout, and the Tigers signed Maas in the fall of 1948 for a $500 bonus; his climb through the minors was interrupted by Army duty during the Korean War (1951-1952) before a strong 1954 season earned him a big-league look. He debuted on April 21, 1955, and pitched all or part of seven seasons (1955-1961) for the Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees. His best Detroit year came in 1957, when he posted a 3.28 ERA over 219.1 innings. Traded to the Yankees in mid-1958, he went 7-3 and started the pennant-clinching game, then earned a ring as a member of the 1958 World Series champions; 1959 was his finest season at 14-8. Arm arthritis pushed him out of the majors after 1961. He disliked his given name Duane and went by "Duke" from childhood, and finished 45-44 with a 4.19 ERA and 356 strikeouts. Like other early-series 1956 Topps cards, #57 exists with the scarcer gray back as well as the common white back.
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 | 1,032 | 0 | 36 | 344 | 289 | 202 | 92 | 69 | 0 |
| SGC | 72 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 18 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 3 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 265 · White Back 767
SGC by variation: Gray Back 39 · Gray Back (Overprint - Roberts) 1 · White Back 32
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 Duke Maas card?
It is card #57 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 Detroit Tigers player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Duke Maas 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 Duke Maas 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.