1956 Topps #107 Eddie Mathews
1956 Topps #107 Eddie Mathews
About Eddie Mathews
Eddie Mathews (1931-2001) was a left-handed-hitting third baseman signed by the Boston Braves in June 1949, shortly after his high-school graduation in Santa Barbara, California, for a $6,000 bonus. After tearing up the minors, he debuted with the Braves in 1952 and went on to play 17 major-league seasons (1952-1968), spending the bulk of his career with the Braves and becoming the only man to play for the franchise in all three of its home cities: Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta. A feared power hitter with a strong arm at the hot corner, Mathews slugged 47 home runs in 1953, then a single-season record for a third baseman, and put together nine straight seasons of 30-plus homers. He finished with 512 career home runs, 1,453 RBI, 2,315 hits, and a .271 average, and paired with Hank Aaron to form one of the game's most dangerous slugging duos, leading Milwaukee to back-to-back pennants and the 1957 World Series championship over the Yankees. In 1954 he had been chosen for the cover of the very first issue of Sports Illustrated. Mathews later managed the Braves (1972-1974) and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978. Like other cards in this series, #107 exists with both white and gray back stock, the white back being the scarcer variety.
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 | 3,441 | 1 | 21 | 312 | 503 | 676 | 678 | 1,248 | 2 |
| SGC | 1,141 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 61 | 111 | 224 | 699 | 27 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 3,104 · White Back 337
SGC by variation: Gray Back 1,002 · White Back 139
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 Eddie Mathews card?
It is card #107 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 Eddie Mathews 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 Eddie Mathews 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.