1956 Topps #172 Frank Torre
1956 Topps #172 Frank Torre
About Frank Torre
Frank Torre, a smooth-fielding left-handed first baseman born in Brooklyn in 1931, signed with the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent (scouted by John "Honey" Russell) and came up through their farm system before debuting in 1956. He played seven big-league seasons, five with the Milwaukee Braves (1956-1960) and two with the Philadelphia Phillies (1962-1963), retiring with a .273 average, 13 home runs, and 179 RBI over 714 games. Renowned for his glove more than his bat, he led the National League in fielding percentage twice, and Braves manager George Selkirk called him the greatest fielding first baseman he had seen in 29 years. Torre's signature moment came in the 1957 World Series, when he hit .300 and homered twice, including a blast in the Braves' seven-game triumph over the Yankees; his best regular season followed in 1958, when he set career highs with a .309 average, 6 homers, and 55 RBI. He was the older brother of Hall of Fame catcher and manager Joe Torre, and in 1996, while Joe managed the Yankees to a championship, Frank received a heart transplant; he died in 2014 at age 82. This rookie card (#172) is a second-series issue known with both the scarcer white and more 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 | 769 | 1 | 17 | 183 | 224 | 152 | 107 | 84 | 1 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 675 · White Back 94
SGC by variation: Gray Back 55 · 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 Frank Torre card?
It is card #172 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, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Frank Torre 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 Torre 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.