1956 Topps #145 Gil Hodges
1956 Topps #145 Gil Hodges
About Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers out of Saint Joseph's College and debuted on October 3, 1943, at age 19, before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II as an anti-aircraft gunner at Tinian and Okinawa, earning a Bronze Star. Returning to anchor first base, he spent his career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1943, 1947-1961) and New York Mets (1962-1963), retiring as a right-handed slugger with a .273 average, 370 home runs, and 1,274 RBI over 2,071 games. An eight-time All-Star (1949-1955, 1957) and winner of three straight Gold Gloves (1957-1959), he hit four home runs in a single game on August 31, 1950, drove in nine that day, and had earlier hit for the cycle on June 25, 1949. Hodges led all major-league first basemen of the 1950s in home runs and helped Brooklyn to its lone title, driving in both runs of the Dodgers' 2-0 Game 7 win over the Yankees in the 1955 World Series; he added another championship in 1959. Beloved even through a hitless 1952 World Series that drew supportive letters from Brooklyn fans, he later managed the 1969 "Miracle Mets" to a stunning World Series crown. Hodges died in 1972 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. This #145 card exists with both the scarcer white and the common gray back stock found on the set's second series.
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 | 2,397 | 1 | 19 | 247 | 370 | 547 | 403 | 806 | 4 |
| SGC | 709 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 49 | 80 | 175 | 372 | 24 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 2,309 · White Back 88
SGC by variation: Gray Back 675 · White Back 34
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 Gil Hodges card?
It is card #145 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 Brooklyn Dodgers player.
Does the 1956 Topps Gil Hodges 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 Gil Hodges 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.