1956 Topps #13 Roy Face
1956 Topps #13 Roy Face
About Roy Face
Right-hander Elroy Leon Face was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1949, then twice claimed in the winter draft by Branch Rickey—first for Brooklyn, then for Pittsburgh, where he debuted in 1953. Over 16 seasons (1953, 1955-1968 with the Pirates, plus late-career stops with Detroit and Montreal in 1968-69), the diminutive reliever—listed at about 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds—became a pioneer of the modern closer role, riding a devastating forkball he mastered in the minors in 1954. He went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA, 877 strikeouts, and 193 career saves, which stood second all-time when he retired. His signature year came in 1959, when he went a record 18-1 in relief for a .947 winning percentage, then in the 1960 World Series he became the first pitcher to save three games in a single Series (Games 1, 4, and 5) as Pittsburgh upset the Yankees. A National League All-Star in 1959, 1960, and 1961, he was nicknamed "The Baron of the Bullpen." Face is a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame but was not elected to Cooperstown. This card #13, like other Series 1 issues, exists with both white and gray back stock, the gray being the scarcer variety.
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 | 973 | 2 | 21 | 253 | 289 | 212 | 108 | 88 | 0 |
| SGC | 88 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 24 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 239 · White Back 734
SGC by variation: Gray Back 44 · White Back 44
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 Roy Face card?
It is card #13 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 Roy Face 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 Roy Face 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.