1956 Topps #16 Hector Lopez
1956 Topps #16 Hector Lopez
About Hector Lopez
Born July 8, 1929, in Colon, Panama, Hector Lopez played semipro ball in Colon before signing with the St. Hyacinthe Saints of the Class-C Provincial League in Quebec, entering the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics organization. A versatile third baseman and outfielder, he debuted with the Kansas City Athletics on May 12, 1955, and this 1956 Topps card captures him as a rookie in that first-series run, which exists with both white and gray back-stock. Traded to the New York Yankees in May 1959, Lopez became a valuable role player on a pennant dynasty, appearing in five straight World Series (1960-1964) and winning championships in 1961 and 1962; in the 1961 Series he batted .333 and drove in five runs in the decisive Game 5 with a home run and a triple. On June 26, 1958, he hit three home runs in a single game against Washington. Over 12 seasons he batted .269 with 1,251 hits, 136 home runs, and 591 RBIs in 1,450 games. Nicknamed "Hector the Hit Collector" by sportswriter George Vecsey, he was the second Panamanian-born major leaguer, and in 1969 he made history as the first Black manager at the Triple-A level, piloting Buffalo. Lopez died September 29, 2022, at age 93.
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 | 869 | 1 | 21 | 197 | 249 | 209 | 115 | 77 | 0 |
| SGC | 75 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 17 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 238 · White Back 631
SGC by variation: Gray Back 37 · White Back 38
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 Hector Lopez card?
It is card #16 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 Kansas City Athletics player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Hector Lopez 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 Hector Lopez 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.