1956 Topps #78 Herm Wehmeier
1956 Topps #78 Herm Wehmeier
About Herm Wehmeier
Herman Ralph "Herm" Wehmeier was a right-handed pitcher signed by his hometown Cincinnati Reds out of high school, debuting on September 7, 1945. Over 13 major-league seasons he pitched for the Reds (1945, 1947-54), Philadelphia Phillies (1954-56), St. Louis Cardinals (1956-58) and Detroit Tigers (1958), finishing 92-108 with a 4.80 ERA and 794 strikeouts. A hard thrower tabbed as a future star, he was plagued by wildness, leading the National League in walks three times (1949, 1950, 1952) and in wild pitches twice (1949, 1950), and he was booed so bitterly at Crosley Field that his 1954 trade to Philadelphia came as a relief. His signature outing came on September 30, 1956, by then a Cardinal, when he threw 12 scoreless innings in a marathon duel with Warren Spahn against the Milwaukee Braves, a Braves loss that helped decide that year's tight NL pennant race. Wehmeier died young, suffering a fatal heart attack at age 46 on May 21, 1973, while testifying in a Dallas federal court trial. His 1956 Topps card (#78) pictures him as a Phillie, capturing him just before his May 1956 trade to St. Louis; like all cards numbered 1-180 in the set, it exists with both the common white and scarcer gray back stock.
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 | 792 | 0 | 17 | 240 | 221 | 172 | 79 | 63 | 0 |
| SGC | 63 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 23 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 208 · White Back 584
SGC by variation: Gray Back 36 · White Back 27
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 Philadelphia Phillies cards
- Ron Negray
- Mayo Smith
- Philadelphia Phillies Team
- Wally Westlake
- Jim Owens
- Richie Ashburn
- Willie Jones
- Glen Gorbous
- Robin Roberts
- Stan Lopata
- Granny Hamner
- Murry Dickson
- Del Ennis
- Jack Meyer
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Herm Wehmeier card?
It is card #78 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 Philadelphia Phillies player.
Does the 1956 Topps Herm Wehmeier 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 Herm Wehmeier 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.