1956 Topps #147 Earl Torgeson
1956 Topps #147 Earl Torgeson
About Earl Torgeson
A graceful, 6-foot-3 left-handed first baseman, Clifford Earl Torgeson (1924-1990) signed with the Pacific Coast League's Seattle Rainiers as a teenager, then lost three prime years to the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing combat in the Aleutians and Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. The Boston Braves brought him to the majors in 1947, and over 15 seasons (1947-1961) he played for the Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. Known for exceptional plate discipline and base-running speed rare for a first baseman, he led the National League with 120 runs scored in 1950 and finished with a .265 average, 149 home runs, 740 RBI and a .385 on-base percentage. A fierce competitor prone to on-field brawls, he was nicknamed "The Earl of Snohomish," inheriting the title from Hall of Famer Earl Averill, a fellow native of Snohomish, Washington. He starred on the 1948 pennant-winning Braves (batting .389 in that World Series), reached the World Series again with the 1959 White Sox, and closed his career with the 1961 champion Yankees. This card falls in the set's second series (#100-180), issued with both scarcer white-back and common gray-back cardboard stock; it captures Torgeson during his Detroit Tigers tenure (1955-1957).
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 | 720 | 1 | 24 | 212 | 183 | 143 | 95 | 62 | 0 |
| SGC | 42 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 657 · White Back 63
SGC by variation: Gray Back 34 · White Back 8
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 Earl Torgeson card?
It is card #147 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.
Does the 1956 Topps Earl Torgeson 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 Earl Torgeson 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.