1956 Topps #130 Willie Mays
1956 Topps #130 Willie Mays
Willie Mays - a headline card of the set.
About Willie Mays
Widely regarded as one of the greatest all-around players in baseball history, Willie Mays broke into pro ball as a teenager with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League before the New York Giants signed him, and he reached the majors in 1951. Over 22 seasons (1951-1973) with the New York/San Francisco Giants and, at the end, the New York Mets, the center fielder batted .302 with 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, 1,903 RBI and 338 stolen bases. He was the 1951 Rookie of the Year, a two-time NL MVP (1954 and 1965), a 24-time All-Star and winner of 12 consecutive Gold Gloves. Mays anchored the Giants' 1954 World Series champions and authored "The Catch," his over-the-shoulder running grab of Vic Wertz's drive in Game 1 of that Series. Nicknamed "The Say Hey Kid," he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979 on the first ballot. This 1956 Topps issue, a headline card of the set, comes with the common gray back and the scarcer white back-stock variation.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 8,262 | 0 | 39 | 407 | 820 | 1,176 | 1,322 | 4,446 | 52 |
| SGC | 3,466 | 0 | 4 | 44 | 123 | 228 | 452 | 2,446 | 169 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 7,273 · White Back 989
SGC by variation: Gray Back 2,865 · White Back 601
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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
More New York Giants cards
- Ruben Gomez
- Bobby Hofman
- Windy McCall
- Dusty Rhodes
- Wayne Terwilliger
- Gail Harris
- Bob Lennon
- Johnny Antonelli
- Alvin Dark
- Wes Westrum
- Hank Thompson
- Jim Hearn
- Whitey Lockman
- New York Giants Team
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Willie Mays card?
It is card #130 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 Willie Mays 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 Willie Mays 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.