1956 Topps #144 Leroy Powell
1956 Topps #144 Leroy Powell
About Leroy Powell
Robert Leroy Powell (October 17, 1933 – April 26, 2014), a Flint, Michigan native who appears on this card under his middle name, was a Michigan State University standout who earned All-American honors in 1955. That June he signed with the Chicago White Sox as a "bonus baby" for $36,000, a contract that under the rules of the era forced the club to keep the raw outfielder on its big-league roster. Nicknamed "Kong" at Michigan State for his unusual strength, Powell drew a conversion attempt from White Sox manager Marty Marion, who tried to remake the never-before pitcher into one after watching him throw batting practice. He never truly got the chance to hit or pitch in the majors: Powell appeared in just two MLB games, both as a pinch-runner against the Kansas City Athletics, scoring his lone run on April 20, 1957 after advancing on a Luis Aparicio hit and coming home on a Nellie Fox single. A second lieutenant through ROTC, he spent much of 1956 on active military duty and left pro ball after 1958. This 1956 Topps #144 was his only baseball card, and Topps compounded its rarity with an error, printing his middle name, Leroy, as his given name; collectors also find it with the scarcer white back and the more common gray back.
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 | 728 | 0 | 21 | 179 | 208 | 158 | 87 | 75 | 0 |
| SGC | 62 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 676 · White Back 52
SGC by variation: Gray Back 57 · White Back 5
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 Leroy Powell card?
It is card #144 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 Chicago White Sox player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Leroy Powell 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 Leroy Powell 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.