1956 Topps #158 Wally Post
1956 Topps #158 Wally Post
About Wally Post
Walter Charles "Wally" Post (1929-1982), a right-handed-hitting outfielder from western Ohio, signed with the Cincinnati Reds at age 16 in 1946 and began his pro career as a pitcher-first baseman in the Class D Ohio State League before converting to the outfield in the minors. He debuted for Cincinnati on September 18, 1949, at age 20, and over a 15-season big-league career (Reds, Phillies, Twins, Indians) batted .266 with 210 home runs and 699 RBI in 1,204 games, admired for his powerful, accurate throwing arm. His career year came in 1955 - the season pictured on this 1956 card - when he hit .309 with 40 home runs and 109 RBI, all career highs; the following year he helped Cincinnati's 1956 Redlegs tie the then-record 221 team home runs. Post earned a reputation as the "best-dressed Red" for the suits he won hitting a "Hit Sign Win Suit" laundry billboard beyond Crosley Field's left-field wall, and he was voted a 1957 All-Star starter before ballot-stuffing forced a lineup change. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1965. As a second-series card, #158 exists with both the scarcer white and common gray back stock; the "Redlegs" club name reflects Cincinnati's mid-1950s Red Scare-era rebranding.
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 | 1 | 19 | 207 | 263 | 182 | 96 | 66 | 0 |
| SGC | 64 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 775 · White Back 59
SGC by variation: Gray Back 58 · White Back 6
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 Wally Post card?
It is card #158 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 Cincinnati Redlegs player.
Does the 1956 Topps Wally Post 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 Wally Post 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.