1956 Topps #140 Herb Score
1956 Topps #140 Herb Score
About Herb Score
Herb Score signed with the Cleveland Indians on his 19th birthday, June 7, 1952, and worked his way up through Indianapolis, Class A Reading (where he roomed with future teammate Rocky Colavito), and Triple-A Indianapolis. The hard-throwing left-hander exploded onto the scene in 1955, winning American League Rookie of the Year honors with a 16-10 record and 2.85 ERA while striking out 245 batters, a major-league rookie record that stood until Dwight Gooden broke it in 1984; he was the first regular starter to average more than a strikeout per inning. He was even better in 1956, going 20-9 with a 2.53 ERA and 263 strikeouts, and was an AL All-Star both seasons. Nicknamed the "left-handed Bob Feller," Score seemed destined for Cooperstown until May 7, 1957, when a Gil McDougald line drive struck him in the face, breaking facial bones and injuring his eye. He eventually recovered his sight but was never the same, finishing 55-46 with a 3.36 ERA and 837 strikeouts over eight seasons (Indians 1955-59, White Sox 1960-62). He later became a beloved Indians broadcaster from 1964 to 1997. This is Score's rookie card, issued in the 1956 Topps second series and known 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 | 1,659 | 0 | 23 | 289 | 371 | 399 | 287 | 287 | 3 |
| SGC | 237 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 36 | 38 | 57 | 79 | 3 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 1,535 · White Back 124
SGC by variation: Gray Back 217 · White Back 20
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 Herb Score card?
It is card #140 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 Cleveland Indians player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Herb Score 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 Herb Score 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.