1956 Topps #41 Hank Sauer
1956 Topps #41 Hank Sauer
About Hank Sauer
Signed off the Pittsburgh sandlots by the Yankees in 1937, right-handed slugger Hank Sauer was a late bloomer who tore up the minors—hitting .336 with 50 home runs for Syracuse in 1947 to be named Minor League Player of the Year—before sticking in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds. Traded to the Chicago Cubs in June 1949, the burly left fielder became an instant hero, and after 11 homers in his first month Cubs fans crowned him "The Mayor of Wrigley Field"; the "Sauer section" in left field would shower him with pouches of chewing tobacco after home runs. His signature 1952 season made him, at 35, the National League MVP—he tied Ralph Kiner for the home-run title with 37 and led the majors with 121 RBI, becoming the first player from a second-division club to win the award. A two-time All-Star (1950, 1952), he belted a career-high 41 home runs in 1954. Sauer finished 15 big-league seasons (Reds, Cubs, Cardinals, and Giants) with 288 home runs, 876 RBI, and a .266 average, and won the 1957 Comeback Player of the Year award at age 40 with the Giants. This 1956 Topps card, from the first series, exists with both the common white and scarcer gray back-stock. Fittingly, card #41 honors the man whose peak was a 41-homer year. He died in 2001 at age 84.
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 | 939 | 0 | 16 | 212 | 296 | 182 | 127 | 106 | 0 |
| SGC | 79 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 22 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 252 · White Back 687
SGC by variation: Gray Back 39 · White Back 40
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 Hank Sauer card?
It is card #41 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 Chicago Cubs player.
Does the 1956 Topps Hank Sauer 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 Hank Sauer 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.