1956 Topps #71 Frank Sullivan
1956 Topps #71 Frank Sullivan
About Frank Sullivan
Frank Sullivan was a right-handed pitcher whom the Red Sox signed after scout Jack Corbett spotted him throwing American Legion ball in the late 1940s. Standing roughly 6-feet-6, he debuted with Boston on July 31, 1953, and pitched 11 major-league seasons (1953-1963) for the Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Minnesota Twins, finishing 97-100 with a 3.60 ERA and 959 strikeouts over 351 appearances. His peak came in 1955, when his 18 wins tied Whitey Ford for the American League lead and he paced the AL in starts and innings pitched (260), earning the first of back-to-back All-Star selections in 1955 and 1956. In the 1955 All-Star Game he surrendered Stan Musial's walk-off home run in the 12th inning. His towering frame earned him the nickname the "Boston Skyscraper," and he was later inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008. As with other Series-1 cards, #71 exists with both 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.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 710 | 0 | 11 | 166 | 228 | 173 | 77 | 55 | 0 |
| SGC | 60 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 178 · White Back 532
SGC by variation: Gray Back 27 · Gray Back (Overprint - Berra) 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 Frank Sullivan card?
It is card #71 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 Boston Red Sox player.
Does the 1956 Topps Frank Sullivan 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 Frank Sullivan 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.