1956 Topps #162 Gus Bell
1956 Topps #162 Gus Bell
About Gus Bell
David Russell "Gus" Bell, a Louisville, Kentucky native, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1947 and hit his way up the minors, batting over .300 in 1948 and 1949 before a torrid Triple-A stretch earned his big-league debut on May 30, 1950. An outfielder who patrolled center and right, he played 15 major-league seasons (1950-1964) for the Pirates, Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Braves, finishing with a .281 average, 1,823 hits, 206 home runs, and 942 RBI. A four-time NL All-Star (1953, 1954, 1956, 1957), Bell broke out in his first Cincinnati season in 1953 with a .300 average, 30 homers, and 105 RBI, and on May 29, 1956 he homered in three straight at-bats. His nickname "Gus" came from childhood: his parents so admired catcher Gus Mancuso that they gave their son David the name. He anchored Cincinnati's lineup through the mid-1950s and later became patriarch of a three-generation big-league family, father of All-Star Buddy Bell and grandfather of David and Mike Bell. This 1956 Topps Series 2 card exists with both the scarcer white and more common gray back stock.
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 | 823 | 1 | 11 | 219 | 234 | 169 | 110 | 79 | 0 |
| SGC | 68 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 740 · White Back 83
SGC by variation: Gray Back 61 · White Back 7
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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More Cincinnati Redlegs cards
- Ted Kluszewski
- Rudy Minarcin
- Art Fowler
- Ray Jablonski
- Cincinnati Redlegs Team
- Roy McMillan
- Al Silvera
- Wally Post
- Joe Black
- Smoky Burgess
- Johnny Temple
- Joe Nuxhall
- Bud Podbielan
- Hersh Freeman
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Gus Bell card?
It is card #162 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 Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Does the 1956 Topps Gus Bell 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 Gus Bell 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.