1956 Topps #161 Joe DeMaestri
1956 Topps #161 Joe DeMaestri
About Joe DeMaestri
A slick-fielding shortstop from San Francisco, Joe DeMaestri signed with the Boston Red Sox organization out of high school in 1946 and reached the majors in 1951 with the Chicago White Sox. After a season with the St. Louis Browns in 1952, he moved to the Athletics, following the franchise from Philadelphia to Kansas City, where he was the everyday shortstop through 1959 and the club he is pictured with on this 1956 Topps card. A right-handed hitter known far more for his glove than his bat, DeMaestri led American League shortstops in fielding percentage in both 1957 and 1958 and earned his lone All-Star selection in 1957. On July 8, 1955, he enjoyed the offensive highlight of his career, going 6-for-6 with all singles against Detroit at Briggs Stadium. Traded to the New York Yankees before the 1960 season, he served as a reserve infielder and was a defensive replacement in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, which the Yankees lost on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off homer; he did earn a championship ring when New York won the 1961 World Series. Nicknamed "Froggy," DeMaestri retired after 1961 as a .236 career hitter with 813 hits, 49 home runs, and 281 RBI over 11 seasons, later running a successful beer-distribution business in Marin County, California. This card exists with both white and gray back-stock, the gray being the more common of the two variations.
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 | 605 | 1 | 16 | 153 | 165 | 127 | 82 | 61 | 0 |
| SGC | 49 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 553 · White Back 52
SGC by variation: Gray Back 42 · 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Joe DeMaestri card?
It is card #161 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.
Does the 1956 Topps Joe DeMaestri 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 Joe DeMaestri 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.