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1956 Topps Baseball Card Set Guide

1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135
1956-Topps-135-Mickey-Mantle-Reverse-Side-White-Variation.jpeg

White Back

1956-Topps-135-Mickey-Mantle-Reverse-Side-Gray-Variation.jpeg

Set Description 

Topps decided to stick with horizontal images for a second year in a row.  The big difference in this set was the design, quality of portraits,  and the inclusion of Mickey Mantle.  1956 was not a banner year for rookies, but just about all the stars from the Golden Era of baseball were included.  This was also a year for updates, as 1956 was the first year to include team cards, checklists (2), and cards featuring the American and National League presidents.  Topps also increased to size of the set to 340 cards.  Each card depicts a high quality close up portrait and smaller action pose.  Instead of a solid colored background like 1955, this year Topps elected to use a stadium or field background.  The reverse of the card features player stats and 3 panel cartoon depicting player accomplishments.  Card backs on #1-180 can be white or gray.  There is a slight premium for gray backs on #1-100 and white backs on #101-180. 

Set Information

Manufacturer: Topps

Year: 1956

Cards in Set: 340

Card Size: 2-5/8'' x 3-3/4''

Series

Series 1: 1-100

Series 2: 101-180

Series 3: 181-260

Series 4: 261-340

Gray Back

Notes

  • Cards from the "high numbers" series 4 do not carry a premium vs. other series.  

  • 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle is a very desirable cards since it is from his triple crown season

  • Both checklists are quite rare and valuable, especially if unchecked

Key Rookie Cards

  • Luis Aparicio (#292)

Subsets

Errors and Variations

  • Many team cards have multiple variations, with the team name on the front being printed centered, to the left, and with or without the year

Key Cards/Hall of Famers

  • Ted Williams (#5)

  • Ernie Banks (#15)

  • Jackie Robinson (#30)

  • Hank Aaron (#31)

  • Roberto Clemente (#33)

  • Sandy Koufax (#79)

  • Yogi Berra (#110)

  • Willie Mays (#130)

  • Mickey Mantle (#135)

  • Yankees team card (#251)

  • None

1956 Topps Mickey Mantle #135
1956 Topps Ernie Banks #15
1956 Topps Yankee Team Card #
1956 Topps Hank Aaron #31
1956 Topps Luis Aparicio rookie #292
1956 Topps Roberto Clemente #33
1956 Topps Jackie Robinson #30
1956 Topps Ted Williams #5
1956 Topps Willie Mays #130

1956 Topps Baseball Checklist

1 Will Harridge
2 Warren Giles
3 Elmer Valo - Kansas City Athletics
4 Carlos Paula - Washington Senators
5 Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox
6 Ray Boone - Detroit Tigers
7 Ron Negray  - Philadelphia Phillies RC
8 Walt Alston  - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
9 Ruben Gomez  - New York Giants DP
10 Warren Spahn - Milwaukee Braves
11 Chicago Cubs Team
12 Andy Carey - New York Yankees
13 Roy Face - Pittsburgh Pirates
14 Ken Boyer  - St. Louis Cardinals DP
15 Ernie Banks  - Chicago Cubs DP
16 Hector Lopez  - Kansas City Athletics RC
17 Gene Conley - Milwaukee Braves
18 Dick Donovan  - Chicago White Sox
19 Chuck Diering  - Baltimore Orioles DP
20 Al Kaline - Detroit Tigers
21 Joe Collins  - New York Yankees DP
22 Jim Finigan - Kansas City Athletics
23 Fred Marsh - Baltimore Orioles
24 Dick Groat - Pittsburgh Pirates
25 Ted Kluszewski - Cincinnati Reds
26 Grady Hatton - Boston Red Sox
27 Nelson Burbrink - St. Louis Cardinals RC DP
28 Bobby Hofman - New York Giants
29 Jack Harshman - Chicago White Sox
30 Jackie Robinson  - Brooklyn Dodgers DP
31 Hank Aaron  - Milwaukee Braves DP
32 Frank House - Detroit Tigers
33 Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates
34 Tom Brewer  - Boston Red Sox DP
35 Al Rosen - Cleveland Indians
36 Rudy Minarcin - Cincinnati Reds
37 Alex Grammas  - St. Louis Cardinals
38 Bob Kennedy - Chicago White Sox
39 Don Mossi  - Cleveland Indians
40 Bob Turley - New York Yankees
41 Hank Sauer - Chicago Cubs
42 Sandy Amoros - Brooklyn Dodgers
43 Ray Moore - Baltimore Orioles
44 Windy McCall - New York Giants
45 Gus Zernial - Kansas City Athletics
46 Gene Freese - Pittsburgh Pirates DP
47 Art Fowler - Cincinnati Reds
48 Jim Hegan - Cleveland Indians
49 Pedro Ramos - Washington Senators RC
50 Dusty Rhodes - New York Giants DP
51 Ernie Oravetz  - Washington Senators RC
52 Bob Grim  - New York Yankees DP
53 Arnie Portocarrero - Kansas City Athletics
54 Bob Keegan - Chicago White Sox
55 Wally Moon - St. Louis Cardinals
56 Dale Long - Pittsburgh Pirates
57 Duke Maas  - Detroit Tigers RC
58 Ed Roebuck - Brooklyn Dodgers
59 Jose Santiago  - Cleveland Indians RC
60 Mayo Smith - Philadelphia Phillies DP
61 Bill Skowron - New York Yankees
62 Hal Smith - Baltimore Orioles
63 Roger Craig  - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
64 Luis Arroyo  - St. Louis Cardinals RC
65 Johnny O'Brien - Pittsburgh Pirates
66 Bob Speake  - Chicago Cubs RC DP
67 Vic Power  - Kansas City Athletics
68 Chuck Stobbs - Washington Senators
69 Chuck Tanner - Milwaukee Braves
70 Jim Rivera - Chicago White Sox
71 Frank Sullivan - Boston Red Sox
72 Philadelphia Phillies Team
73 Wayne Terwilliger - New York Giants
74 Jim King  - Chicago Cubs RC
75 Roy Sievers  - Washington Senators DP
76 Ray Crone - Milwaukee Braves
77 Harvey Haddix - St. Louis Cardinals
78 Herm Wehmeier - Philadelphia Phillies
79 Sandy Koufax - Brooklyn Dodgers
80 Gus Triandos  - Baltimore Orioles DP
81 Wally Westlake - Philadelphia Phillies
82 Bill Renna  - Kansas City Athletics DP
83 Karl Spooner - Brooklyn Dodgers
84 Babe Birrer - Detroit Tigers RC
85 Cleveland Indians Team
86 Ray Jablonski  - Cincinnati Reds DP
87 Dean Stone - Washington Senators
88 Johnny Kucks  - New York Yankees RC
89 Norm Zauchin - Boston Red Sox
90 Cincinnati Redlegs Team
91 Gail Harris  - New York Giants RC
92 Red Wilson - Detroit Tigers
93 George Susce Jr. - Boston Red Sox
94 Ron Kline - Pittsburgh Pirates
95 Milwaukee Braves Team
96 Bill Tremel - Chicago Cubs
97 Jerry Lynch - Pittsburgh Pirates
98 Camilo Pascual - Washington Senators
99 Don Zimmer - Brooklyn Dodgers
100 Baltimore Orioles Team
101 Roy Campanella - Brooklyn Dodgers
102 Jim Davis - Chicago Cubs
103 Willy Miranda - Baltimore Orioles
104 Bob Lennon - New York Giants
105 Al Smith - Cleveland Indians
106 Joe Astroth - Kansas City Athletics
107 Eddie Mathews - Milwaukee Braves
108 Laurin Pepper - Pittsburgh Pirates
109 Enos Slaughter - Kansas City Athletics
110 Yogi Berra - New York Yankees
111 Boston Red Sox Team
112 Dee Fondy - Chicago Cubs
113 Phil Rizzuto - New York Yankees
114 Jim Owens - Philadelphia Phillies
115 Jackie Jensen - Boston Red Sox
116 Eddie O'Brien - Pittsburgh Pirates
117 Virgil Trucks - Detroit Tigers
118 Nellie Fox - Chicago White Sox
119 Larry Jackson  - St. Louis Cardinals RC
120 Richie Ashburn - Philadelphia Phillies
121 Pittsburgh Pirates Team
122 Willard Nixon - Boston Red Sox
123 Roy McMillan - Cincinnati Reds
124 Don Kaiser - Chicago Cubs
125 Minnie Minoso  - Chicago White Sox
126 Jim Brady - Detroit Tigers RC
127 Willie Jones - Philadelphia Phillies
128 Eddie Yost - Washington Senators
129 Paul Martin - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
130 Willie Mays - New York Giants
131 Bob Roselli  - Milwaukee Braves RC
132 Bobby Avila - Cleveland Indians
133 Ray Narleski - Cleveland Indians
134 St. Louis Cardinals Team
135 Mickey Mantle - New York Yankees
136 Johnny Logan - Milwaukee Braves
137 Al Silvera  - Cincinnati Reds RC
138 Johnny Antonelli - New York Giants
139 Tommy Carroll - New York Yankees
140 Herb Score  - Cleveland Indians RC
141 Joe Frazier - St. Louis Cardinals
142 Gene Baker - Chicago Cubs
143 Jim Piersall - Boston Red Sox
144 Leroy Powell  - Chicago White Sox RC
145 Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers
146 Washington Nationals Team
147 Earl Torgeson - Detroit Tigers
148 Alvin Dark - New York Giants
149 Dixie Howell - Chicago White Sox
150 Duke Snider - Brooklyn Dodgers
151 Spook Jacobs - Kansas City Athletics
152 Billy Hoeft - Detroit Tigers
153 Frank Thomas - Pittsburgh Pirates
154 Dave Pope - Baltimore Orioles
155 Harvey Kuenn - Detroit Tigers
156 Wes Westrum - New York Giants
157 Dick Brodowski - Washington Senators
158 Wally Post - Cincinnati Reds
159 Clint Courtney - Washington Senators
160 Billy Pierce - Chicago White Sox
161 Joe DeMaestri - Kansas City Athletics
162 Gus Bell - Cincinnati Reds
163 Gene Woodling - Cleveland Indians
164 Harmon Killebrew - Washington Senators
165 Red Schoendienst - St. Louis Cardinals
166 Brooklyn Dodgers Team
167 Harry Dorish - Baltimore Orioles
168 Sammy White - Boston Red Sox
169 Bob Nelson  - Baltimore Orioles RC
170 Bill Virdon - St. Louis Cardinals
171 Jim Wilson - Baltimore Orioles

 

172 Frank Torre - Milwaukee Braves RC
173 Johnny Podres - Brooklyn Dodgers
174 Glen Gorbous - Philadelphia Phillies RC
175 Del Crandall - Milwaukee Braves
176 Alex Kellner - Kansas City Athletics
177 Hank Bauer - New York Yankees
178 Joe Black - Cincinnati Reds
179 Harry Chiti - Chicago Cubs
180 Robin Roberts - Philadelphia Phillies
181 Billy Martin - New York Yankees
182 Paul Minner - Chicago Cubs
183 Stan Lopata - Philadelphia Phillies
184 Don Bessent  - Brooklyn Dodgers RC
185 Bill Bruton - Milwaukee Braves
186 Ron H. Jackson - Chicago White Sox
187 Early Wynn - Cleveland Indians
188 Chicago White Sox Team
189 Ned Garver - Detroit Tigers
190 Carl Furillo - Brooklyn Dodgers
191 Frank Lary - Detroit Tigers
192 Smoky Burgess - Cincinnati Reds
193 Wilmer Mizell - St. Louis Cardinals
194 Monte Irvin - Chicago Cubs
195 George Kell - Chicago White Sox
196 Tom Poholsky - St. Louis Cardinals
197 Granny Hamner - Philadelphia Phillies
198 Ed Fitz Gerald - Washington Senators
199 Hank Thompson - New York Giants
200 Bob Feller - Cleveland Indians
201 Rip Repulski - St. Louis Cardinals
202 Jim Hearn - New York Giants
203 Bill Tuttle - Detroit Tigers
204 Art Swanson  - Pittsburgh Pirates RC
205 Whitey Lockman - New York Giants
206 Erv Palica - Baltimore Orioles
207 Jim Small  - Detroit Tigers RC
208 Elston Howard - New York Yankees
209 Max Surkont - Pittsburgh Pirates
210 Mike Garcia - Cleveland Indians
211 Murry Dickson - Philadelphia Phillies
212 Johnny Temple - Cincinnati Reds
213 Detroit Tigers Team
214 Bob Rush - Chicago Cubs
215 Tommy Byrne - New York Yankees
216 Jerry Schoonmaker - Washington Senators RC
217 Billy Klaus - Boston Red Sox
218 Joe Nuxhall  - Cincinnati Reds
219 Lew Burdette - Milwaukee Braves
220 Del Ennis - Philadelphia Phillies
221 Bob Friend - Pittsburgh Pirates
222 Dave Philley - Baltimore Orioles
223 Randy Jackson - Brooklyn Dodgers
224 Bud Podbielan - Cincinnati Reds
225 Gil McDougald - New York Yankees
226 New York Giants Team
227 Russ Meyer - Chicago Cubs
228 Mickey Vernon - Boston Red Sox
229 Harry Brecheen - Baltimore Orioles
230 Chico Carrasquel - Cleveland Indians
231 Bob Hale RC - Baltimore Orioles
232 Toby Atwell - Pittsburgh Pirates
233 Carl Erskine - Brooklyn Dodgers
234 Pete Runnels - Washington Senators
235 Don Newcombe - Brooklyn Dodgers
236 Kansas City Athletics Team
237 Jose Valdivielso - Washington Senators RC
238 Walt Dropo - Chicago White Sox
239 Harry Simpson - Kansas City Athletics
240 Whitey Ford - New York Yankees
241 Don Mueller - New York Giants
242 Hershell Freeman - Cincinnati Reds
243 Sherm Lollar - Chicago White Sox
244 Bob Buhl - Milwaukee Braves
245 Billy Goodman - Boston Red Sox
246 Tom Gorman - Kansas City Athletics
247 Bill Sarni - St. Louis Cardinals
248 Bob Porterfield - Boston Red Sox
249 Johnny Klippstein - Cincinnati Reds
250 Larry Doby - Chicago White Sox
251 New York Yankees Team
252 Vern Law - Pittsburgh Pirates
253 Irv Noren - New York Yankees
254 George Crowe - Milwaukee Braves
255 Bob Lemon - Cleveland Indians
256 Tom Hurd - Boston Red Sox
257 Bobby Thomson - Milwaukee Braves
258 Art Ditmar - Kansas City Athletics
259 Sam Jones - Chicago Cubs
260 Pee Wee Reese - Brooklyn Dodgers
261 Bobby Shantz - Kansas City Athletics
262 Howie Pollet - Chicago White Sox
263 Bob Miller - Detroit Tigers
264 Ray Monzant - New York Giants RC
265 Sandy Consuegra - Chicago White Sox
266 Don Ferrarese - Baltimore Orioles
267 Bob Nieman - Chicago White Sox
268 Dale Mitchell - Cleveland Indians
269 Jack Meyer - Philadelphia Phillies RC
270 Billy Loes - Brooklyn Dodgers
271 Foster Castleman  - New York Giants RC
272 Danny O'Connell - Milwaukee Braves
273 Walker Cooper - St. Louis Cardinals
274 Frank Baumholtz - Philadelphia Phillies
275 Jim Greengrass - Philadelphia Phillies
276 George Zuverink - Baltimore Orioles
277 Daryl Spencer - New York Giants
278 Chet Nichols - Milwaukee Braves
279 Johnny Groth - Kansas City Athletics
280 Jim Gilliam - Brooklyn Dodgers
281 Art Houtteman - Cleveland Indians
282 Warren Hacker - Chicago Cubs
283 Hal Smith  - St. Louis Cardinals
284 Ike Delock - Boston Red Sox
285 Eddie Miksis - Chicago Cubs
286 Bill Wight - Baltimore Orioles
287 Bobby Adams - Baltimore Orioles
288 Bob Cerv - New York Yankees
289 Hal Jeffcoat - Cincinnati Reds
290 Curt Simmons - Philadelphia Phillies
291 Frank Kellert  - Chicago Cubs RC
292 Luis Aparicio - Chicago White Sox RC
293 Stu Miller - St. Louis Cardinals
294 Ernie Johnson - Milwaukee Braves
295 Clem Labine - Brooklyn Dodgers
296 Andy Seminick - Philadelphia Phillies
297 Bob Skinner - Pittsburgh Pirates
298 Johnny Schmitz - Boston Red Sox
299 Charlie Neal - Brooklyn Dodgers
300 Vic Wertz - Cleveland Indians
301 Marv Grissom - New York Giants
302 Eddie Robinson - New York Yankees
303 Jim Dyck - Baltimore Orioles
304 Frank Malzone - Boston Red Sox
305 Brooks Lawrence - Cincinnati Reds
306 Curt Roberts - Pittsburgh Pirates
307 Hoyt Wilhelm - New York Giants
308 Chuck Harmon - Cincinnati Reds
309 Don Blasingame - St. Louis Cardinals RC
310 Steve Gromek - Detroit Tigers
311 Hal Naragon - Cleveland Indians
312 Andy Pafko - Milwaukee Braves
313 Gene Stephens - Boston Red Sox
314 Hobie Landrith - Chicago Cubs
315 Milt Bolling - Boston Red Sox
316 Jerry Coleman - New York Yankees
317 Al Aber - Detroit Tigers
318 Fred Hatfield - Detroit Tigers
319 Jack Crimian - Kansas City Athletics RC
320 Joe Adcock - Milwaukee Braves
321 Jim Konstanty - New York Yankees
322 Karl Olson - Washington Senators
323 Willard Schmidt - St. Louis Cardinals
324 Rocky Bridges - Cincinnati Reds
325 Don Liddle - New York Giants
326 Connie Johnson - Chicago White Sox RC
327 Bob Wiesler - Washington Senators RC
328 Preston Ward - Pittsburgh Pirates
329 Lou Berberet - Washington Senators RC
330 Jim Busby - Cleveland Indians
331 Dick Hall - Pittsburgh Pirates
332 Don Larsen - New York Yankees
333 Rube Walker - Brooklyn Dodgers
334 Bob Miller - Philadelphia Phillies
335 Don Hoak - Chicago Cubs
336 Ellis Kinder - St. Louis Cardinals
337 Bobby Morgan - Philadelphia Phillies
338 Jim Delsing - Detroit Tigers
339 Rance Pless - Kansas City Athletics RC
340 Mickey McDermott - New York Yankees
1st/3rd Series Checklist
2nd/4th Series Checklist

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