1952 Topps #251 Chico Carrasquel
About Chico Carrasquel
Alfonso "Chico" Carrasquel (1926–2005) was a slick-fielding shortstop from Caracas, Venezuela, signed by Brooklyn Dodgers scout Fresco Thompson in 1948 after he won a Venezuelan batting title. Following minor-league stops at Montreal and Fort Worth—where teammates gave him the nickname "Chico"—he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox and debuted in 1950, inheriting shortstop from the popular longtime star Luke Appling. He won over Chicago fans immediately, hitting a career-best .282 as a rookie with a 24-game hitting streak and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. In 1951 he became the first Latin American-born player selected to start an All-Star Game, and he was named an All-Star four times (1951, 1953, 1954, 1955) while leading American League shortstops in fielding percentage in several seasons. Carrasquel played 10 big-league seasons (1950–1959) for the White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, and Baltimore Orioles, batting around .258 with 55 home runs and 474 RBI. Revered as the "father of Venezuelan shortstops," he mentored countryman Luis Aparicio and paved the way for stars like Dave Concepción and Omar Vizquel; he was enshrined in the inaugural class of Venezuela's Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. His card, #251, sits in the fifth series of the landmark 1952 Topps set, well ahead of the scarce high-number run (#311-407) that includes the iconic Mickey Mantle #311.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 490 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 52 | 102 | 118 | 186 | 3 |
| SGC | 73 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 43 | 3 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Chico Carrasquel card?
It is card #251 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Chicago White Sox player.
Is the 1952 Topps Chico Carrasquel valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-05.