1956 Topps #76 Ray Crone
1956 Topps #76 Ray Crone
About Ray Crone
Raymond Hayes Crone (August 7, 1931 - January 15, 2026) was a right-handed pitcher from Memphis, Tennessee, where he starred as a schoolboy, throwing five no-hitters in high school and leading his American Legion team to three straight state titles. He signed with the Boston Braves in 1949, the day after he graduated, and broke through in the minors with a 19-win, 2.38-ERA season for Jacksonville in 1953. Crone made his major-league debut with the Milwaukee Braves on April 13, 1954, and pitched five big-league seasons (1954-1958) for the Braves and the New York/San Francisco Giants. His best years came in Milwaukee, where he went 10-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 1955 and 11-10 with a 3.87 ERA in 1956. On June 15, 1957, he was traded with Danny O'Connell and Bobby Thomson to the Giants for Hall of Fame second baseman Red Schoendienst, a deal that helped push the Braves to the 1957 World Series title. Crone finished 30-30 with a 3.87 ERA and 260 strikeouts in 137 games, then later became a longtime scout for the Expos, Orioles, Padres, and Diamondbacks. As a 1955-56 Series-one card, his #76 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 | 806 | 0 | 11 | 212 | 258 | 178 | 88 | 59 | 0 |
| SGC | 57 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 217 · White Back 589
SGC by variation: Gray Back 33 · White Back 24
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 Ray Crone card?
It is card #76 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 Milwaukee Braves player.
Does the 1956 Topps Ray Crone 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 Ray Crone 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.