1956 Topps #92 Red Wilson
1956 Topps #92 Red Wilson
About Red Wilson
Robert James "Red" Wilson (March 7, 1929 - August 8, 2014), listed on this card as "Bob" Wilson, was a two-sport star at the University of Wisconsin before catching a decade in the majors. Nicknamed "Red" for his bright mop of auburn hair, he was named the Badgers' football MVP in his final three seasons and led Wisconsin to the College World Series in 1950 while batting .426. He signed with the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1950 and reached the big leagues in 1951, going on to play 10 seasons (1951-1960) for the White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians. A right-handed-hitting catcher, Wilson appeared in 602 games and batted .258 with 24 home runs and 189 RBI. His best year came in 1958, when he hit a career-high .299 and, on July 20, caught Jim Bunning's no-hitter against Boston; he was also the regular catcher for Detroit's "Yankee Killer" Frank Lary. After baseball he became a bank president in Madison, Wisconsin, and was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. As a Series 1 card, #92 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 | 741 | 0 | 22 | 202 | 233 | 150 | 76 | 58 | 0 |
| SGC | 58 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 3 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 186 · White Back 555
SGC by variation: Gray Back 23 · Gray Back (Overprint - Davis) 1 · White Back 34
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 Red Wilson card?
It is card #92 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 Detroit Tigers player.
Does the 1956 Topps Red Wilson 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 Red Wilson 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.