1956 Topps #23 Fred Marsh
1956 Topps #23 Fred Marsh
About Fred Marsh
A right-handed infielder who played third base and shortstop, Fred Francis Marsh was originally signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1942 out of Chicago's Steinmetz High School, then served in the Navy during World War II before his discharge in 1945. He reached the majors with the Cleveland Indians, debuting on April 19, 1949, and over parts of seven seasons (1949, 1951-1956) suited up for the Indians, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. Traded to Baltimore in December 1954, "Freddie" Marsh appeared in 89 games for the Orioles in 1955, batting .218 with a patient 35 walks, and his final big-league game came with the club on May 29, 1956 - the same year this card was issued. For his career he hit .239 with 296 hits, 10 home runs, and 96 RBI across 465 games, and was efficient on the bases, succeeding on 13 of 14 stolen-base attempts. Standing 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Marsh worked for years as a postal carrier after leaving the game and died in Corry, Pennsylvania, in 2006 at age 82. Like other cards numbered 1-180 in the 1956 set, #23 exists with both white and gray backs, with the gray-back stock the scarcer of the two.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 938 | 0 | 31 | 284 | 290 | 164 | 96 | 72 | 1 |
| SGC | 68 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 253 · White Back 685
SGC by variation: Gray Back 40 · Gray Back (Overprint - Torre) 1 · White Back 27
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 Fred Marsh card?
It is card #23 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 Baltimore Orioles player.
Does the 1956 Topps Fred Marsh 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 Fred Marsh 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.