1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball Cards
Product Details
Although the values don't match the more storied sets from the era, 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball cards offer one of the first releases from Topps Baseball.
As an early entry from the Topps Baseball brand, the simple set is part of collecting history.
See also: 1951 Topps Blue Backs Baseball Cards
1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball Set Details
1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball cards, and the similar 1951 Topps Blue Backs, are a hybrid collectible that combines baseball cards with a baseball-themed card game. Although the game never garnered much interest, the Red Backs remain relevant as one of the first baseball card sets produced by Topps.
Showcasing a design that mimics a standard deck of cards, the card fronts for the 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball set are colorful. Yellow, green, red and blue are used to highlight a black-and-white photo that is centered in the middle of the cards with a diamond background. There are also additional elements in the corners, including a baseball drawing, red baseball graphic and play in two corners, and a brief player bio. The plays referenced, like double or strike, correspond to the card game.
The 52-card 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball set matches the Blue Backs in total number, but the master set is actually 54 cards thanks to two variations that were issued for team updates (#36 and #52). Despite these similarities, the two sets are easily distinguished based on the color of the card backs. Also, the Red Backs are noted as "A Series" on the card fronts.
Another difference among the two 1951 Topps Baseball sets is the checklist. 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball features eight Hall of Fame inductees, including the rookie card for Monte Irvin. Other top options include Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Phil Rizzuto, Bob Feller and Warren Spahn. Variations include trade updates for Gus Zernial and Tommy Holmes.
Despite boasting the better checklist, the 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball values are lower than their blue equivalent. This is due to the relative scarcity of the Blue Backs compared to the Red Backs. Card creasing also makes it more difficult to locate high-grade examples.
Additionally, 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball cards are largely found in single-card form, but there is a more limited panel version that includes two cards attached with perforation. While the panel cards do carry a premium, both versions display the perforation edges. Although rare, factory sets of panels were also issued and have surfaced at auction.
Key Cards
Key 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball Cards
#1 Yogi Berra
#38 Duke Snider
#5 Phil Rizzuto
#30 Warren Spahn
#22 Bob Feller
#50 Monte Irvin
Set Checklist
1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball Set Checklist
2 Sid Gordon - Boston Braves
3 Ferris Fain - Philadelphia Athletics
4 Vern Stephens - Boston Red Sox
5 Phil Rizzuto - New York Yankees
6 Allie Reynolds - New York Yankees
7 Howie Pollet - St. Louis Cardinals
8 Early Wynn - Cleveland Indians
9 Roy Sievers - St. Louis Browns
10 Mel Parnell - Boston Red Sox
11 Gene Hermanski - Brooklyn Dodgers
12 Jim Hegan - Cleveland Indians
13 Dale Mitchell - Cleveland Indians
14 Wayne Terwilliger - Chicago Cubs
15 Ralph Kiner - Pittsburgh Pirates
16 Preacher Roe - Brooklyn Dodgers
17 Dave Bell - Pittsburgh Pirates
18 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees
19 Dick Kokos - St. Louis Browns
20 Dom DiMaggio - Boston Red Sox
21 Larry Jansen - New York Giants
22 Bob Feller - Cleveland Indians
23 Ray Boone - Cleveland Indians
24 Hank Bauer - New York Yankees
25 Cliff Chambers - Pittsburgh Pirates
26 Luke Easter - Cleveland Indians
27 Wally Westlake - Pittsburgh Pirates
29 Bob Kennedy - Cleveland Indians
30 Warren Spahn - Boston Braves
31 Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers
32 Hank Thompson - New York Giants
33 Bill Werle - Pittsburgh Pirates
34 Grady Hatton - Cincinnati Reds
35 Al Rosen - Cleveland Indians
36 Gus Zernial - Chicago White Sox
36 Gus Zernial - Philadelphia Athletics
37 Wes Westrum - New York Giants
38 Duke Snider - Brooklyn Dodgers
39 Ted Kluszewski - Cincinnati Reds
40 Mike Garcia - Cleveland Indians
41 Whitey Lockman - New York Giants
42 Ray Scarborough - Boston Red Sox
43 Maurice McDermott - Boston Red Sox
44 Sid Hudson - Washington Senators
45 Andy Seminick - Philadelphia Phillies
46 Billy Goodman - Boston Red Sox
47 Tommy Glaviano - St. Louis Cardinals
48 Eddie Stanky - New York Giants
49 Al Zarilla - Chicago White Sox
50 Monte Irvin - New York Giants
51 Eddie Robinson - Chicago White Sox
52 Tommy Holmes - Boston Braves
52 Tommy Holmes - Hartford Chiefs
1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball Panels Set Checklist
25 Cliff Chambers - 2 Sid Gordon
3 Ferris Fain - 21 Larry Jansen
4 Vern Stephens - 43 Maurice McDermott
16 Preacher Roe - 5 Phil Rizzuto
6 Allie Reynolds - 31 Gil Hodges
7 Howie Pollet - 12 Jim Hegan
8 Early Wynn - 47 Tommy Glaviano
41 Whitey Lockman - 9 Roy Sievers
10 Mel Parnell - 32 Henry Thompson
11 Gene Hermanski - 24 Hank Bauer
13 Dale Mitchell - 17 Gus Bell
18 Jerry Coleman - 14 Wayne Terwilliger
19 Dick Kosko - 50 Monte Irvin
20 Dom DiMaggio - 40 Mike Garcia
22 Bob Feller - 52 Tommy Holmes
44 Sid Hudson - 23 Ray Boone
34 Grady Hatton - 27 Wally Westlake
28 Elmer Valo - 48 Eddie Stanky
29 Bob Kennedy - 39 Ted Kluszewski
30 Warren Spahn - 46 Billy Goodman
33 William Werle - 51 Eddie Robinson
37 Wes Westrum - 49 Al Zarilla
38 Duke Snider - 45 Andy Seminick
42 Ray Scarborough - 36 Gus Zernial
Hot Auctions
Hottest 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball Cards Auction List
Here are the real-time rankings of the most popular 1951 Topps Red Backs Baseball cards currently being sold on eBay at auction:
 | Making purchases through affiliate links can earn the site a commission |
Roger Ponds
The 1951 Topps sets (Red Backs and Blue Backs sets) were the first baseball card sets ever issued by the company. Cards from the Red Backs set are much easier to find, and therefore, much cheaper than cards from the Blue Backs set. I first became aware of the 1951 Topps sets in 1975, when Topps issued for the first time the MVP card series (1951-1974), marking Topps’ 25th year in business. Prior to 1975, I did not know anything about old baseball cards before 1971. Prior to 1975, I had a small collection of Topps cards 1971-1975, plus a few Kelloggs 3-D cards each year from 1972 to 1974. It all changed in 1975, while I was in my mid-teens, that I first became aware of old baseball cards. It was because of the 1975 Topps MVP series (or subset), combined with the release of this book “The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading, and Bubble Gum Book” written by Brendon C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris), that was what inspired my interest in collecting old baseball cards. I started on my journey in 1975 to put together complete sets of old baseball cards from the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s. So, for many years, I did not have any cards from the 1951 Topps sets (Red Backs nor Blue Backs sets) as they are not particularly attractive cards – small size plus the fact that the cards contain B&W photos. Finally, last year (2025), I decided to purchase a complete set of the 1951 Topps Red Backs set (52 cards plus 2 variation cards) from an online seller on eBay for around $1900. I figured that I would be better off buying a complete 1951 Topps set rather than try to put together the set by piecemeal. By adding the 1951 Topps card of Yogi Berra (Red Backs set) last year, I now have all the original Topps MVP cards. I found out later that Roy Campanella (pictured as one of the cards from the 1951 Topps set in the 1975 Topps MVP series) was not issued as part of the 1951 Topps sets. These two 1951 Topps sets predate the famed (and very expensive) 1952 Topps set.