1956 Topps #108 Laurin Pepper
1956 Topps #108 Laurin Pepper
About Laurin Pepper
Hugh McLaurin "Laurin" Pepper III (born January 18, 1930, in Vaughan, Mississippi; died 2018) reached the majors as one of the era's famed "bonus babies." A right-handed pitcher, he was first an All-American running back at Mississippi Southern (now Southern Miss), where he starred in the Golden Eagles' 1953 upset of fifth-ranked Alabama with a 66-yard touchdown run and a 45-yard touchdown catch; his 8.2 career yards-per-carry remains a school record. Selected sixth by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1954 NFL Draft, Pepper instead signed a bonus contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose terms forced the club to keep him on the big-league roster. He pitched for the Pirates across four seasons (1954-1957), appearing in 44 games and finishing 2-8 with a 7.06 ERA and 40 strikeouts before continuing in the minors through 1963. This 1956 Topps card, No. 108, exists with both the scarcer white and more common gray back stock of the set's second series. After baseball Pepper became a legendary high-school coach, guiding Ocean Springs High School to a 191-81-3 record over 28 seasons; the field there was named Hugh Pepper Field in his honor in 1998.
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 | 735 | 1 | 17 | 181 | 221 | 161 | 95 | 59 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 650 · White Back 85
SGC by variation: Gray Back 36 · 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 Laurin Pepper card?
It is card #108 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 Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Does the 1956 Topps Laurin Pepper 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 Laurin Pepper 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.