1956 Topps #173 Johnny Podres
1956 Topps #173 Johnny Podres
About Johnny Podres
Johnny Podres, born September 30, 1932, in Witherbee, New York (d. 2008), was a left-handed pitcher signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season; he opened his pro career with the Hazard Bombers of the Mountain States League, going 21-9 with a 1.67 ERA. He reached the majors in 1953 and pitched 15 seasons, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers (1953-1966) before stints with the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres. Podres is best remembered for the 1955 World Series, when he won Games 3 and 7 against the Yankees, shutting them out 2-0 in the decisive Game 7 to clinch Brooklyn's only World Series title. For that effort he earned the first World Series Most Valuable Player Award ever given. A four-time All-Star, he led the National League with a 2.66 ERA in 1957 and won four championships (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965), finishing 148-116 with a 3.68 ERA and 1,435 strikeouts. This second-series card comes in both the scarcer white-back 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 | 1,256 | 1 | 13 | 200 | 272 | 305 | 202 | 263 | 0 |
| SGC | 191 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 42 | 29 | 39 | 69 | 3 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 1,173 · White Back 83
SGC by variation: Gray Back 181 · White Back 10
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 Johnny Podres card?
It is card #173 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 Brooklyn Dodgers player.
Does the 1956 Topps Johnny Podres 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 Johnny Podres 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.