1956 Topps #116 Eddie O'Brien
1956 Topps #116 Eddie O'Brien
About Eddie O'Brien
Edward Joseph O'Brien (December 11, 1930 - February 21, 2014) was a South Amboy, New Jersey native who reached the majors as one of baseball's most famous twins. With his brother Johnny, he starred in both basketball and baseball at Seattle University, where the diminutive brothers led the Chieftains to a stunning 84-81 upset of the Harlem Globetrotters on January 21, 1952. Pirates scout Ed McCarrick signed both twins in March 1953 for reported $25,000 bonuses apiece, and Branch Rickey converted the natural center fielder into a shortstop. Johnny and Eddie became the first twins in major-league history to play for the same team in the same game. O'Brien played five seasons entirely with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1953, 1955-58), a light-hitting utility man who batted .236 with 131 hits and 25 RBI over 231 games while also seeing time in the outfield and on the mound; as a pitcher he went 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA, his lone win a complete game over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 14, 1957. He later served as athletic director at his alma mater and, as a Seattle Pilots coach, was memorialized as "Mr. Small Stuff" in Jim Bouton's Ball Four. This second-series card exists with both the scarcer white and the common 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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 817 | 4 | 17 | 235 | 215 | 169 | 99 | 76 | 2 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 724 · White Back 93
SGC by variation: Gray Back 50 · 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 Eddie O'Brien card?
It is card #116 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Does the 1956 Topps Eddie O'Brien 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 O'Brien 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.