1956 Topps #117 Virgil Trucks
1956 Topps #117 Virgil Trucks
About Virgil Trucks
A hard-throwing right-hander signed by the Detroit Tigers, Virgil Trucks first made his name in the minors, setting a professional record with roughly 420 strikeouts for Andalusia in 1938 and tossing four minor-league no-hitters before reaching the majors. He debuted with Detroit in September 1941 and pitched 17 big-league seasons through 1958, spending most of his career with the Tigers (1941-43, 1945-52, 1956) and also appearing for the St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees. Trucks went 177-135 with a 3.39 ERA and 1,534 strikeouts, earned two All-Star selections (1949, 1954), led the American League in strikeouts in 1949, and won a career-high 20 games in 1953. Fresh out of the Navy, he beat the Cubs with a complete-game 4-1 win in Game 2 of the 1945 World Series, helping Detroit to the title in seven games. His most famous feat came in 1952, when he became just the third pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one season (May 15 vs. Washington, August 25 vs. the Yankees) even while finishing a paradoxical 5-19. Nicknamed "Fire" by Birmingham sportswriter Jack House for his blazing fastball, he was born in 1917 and died in 2013. This card, from Topps' second series, exists with both the scarcer white and more common 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 | 702 | 1 | 13 | 145 | 207 | 160 | 74 | 102 | 0 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 23 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 636 · White Back 66
SGC by variation: Gray Back 49 · White Back 10
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 Virgil Trucks card?
It is card #117 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 Virgil Trucks 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 Virgil Trucks 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.