1956 Topps #156 Wes Westrum
1956 Topps #156 Wes Westrum
About Wes Westrum
Wesley Noreen Westrum, born November 28, 1922, in tiny Clearbrook, Minnesota, signed with the Class D Crookston Pirates of the Northern League in 1940 while still a high-school junior, then climbed through the New York Giants' farm system (with three Army years in between, 1943-45) before debuting in the majors in 1947. A right-handed-throwing catcher, he spent his entire 11-year big-league career (1947-1957) with the Giants, earning a reputation as one of the era's finest defensive receivers; in 1950 he committed just one error in 680 chances for a .999 fielding percentage that set a National League record for catchers, unbroken until 1997. A two-time NL All-Star (1952-53), Westrum enjoyed his best offensive year in 1951, hitting 20 home runs with 70 RBI and belting a two-run homer off Ralph Branca on August 13 during the Giants' storied pennant drive. He appeared in the 1951 World Series and caught all four games of the Giants' 1954 championship sweep of Cleveland. Over 919 games he batted .217 with 96 home runs and 315 RBI. He later managed the Mets (1965-67) and Giants (1974-75) and died May 28, 2002. In the 1956 Topps set his card (#156) was printed on 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 | 914 | 1 | 17 | 237 | 263 | 206 | 115 | 75 | 0 |
| SGC | 78 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 827 · White Back 87
SGC by variation: Gray Back 67 · White Back 11
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 Wes Westrum card?
It is card #156 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 New York Giants player.
Does the 1956 Topps Wes Westrum 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 Wes Westrum 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.