1956 Topps #94 Ron Kline
1956 Topps #94 Ron Kline
About Ron Kline
A hard-throwing right-hander from Callery, Pennsylvania, Ron Kline (1932-2002) was signed by his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates in 1950 after a tryout at Forbes Field, then debuted in 1952 before losing 1953-54 to Army service during the Korean War. He pitched 17 major-league seasons (1952, 1955-1970) for nine clubs, spending most of his time with the Pirates and Washington Senators, and finished 114-144 with a 3.75 ERA, 989 strikeouts and 108 saves over 736 appearances. Used first as a starter, Kline led the National League in losses in both 1956 and 1958 for weak Pittsburgh teams, then reinvented himself as one of baseball's better relievers, pacing the American League with 29 saves for Washington in 1965. His finest year came in a 1968 return to Pittsburgh, when he went 12-5 with a career-best 1.68 ERA and drew public praise from Roberto Clemente. Long rumored to throw an illegal spitter, Kline happily let hitters believe it, and after retiring he served as mayor of Callery. This card is card #94 in the 1956 Topps set and, like other first-series numbers, exists with both the common white back and the 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 | 834 | 3 | 32 | 233 | 266 | 162 | 87 | 51 | 0 |
| SGC | 62 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 235 · White Back 599
SGC by variation: Gray Back 33 · White Back 29
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 Ron Kline card?
It is card #94 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 Ron Kline 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 Ron Kline 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.