1956 Topps #4 Carlos Paula
1956 Topps #4 Carlos Paula
About Carlos Paula
Carlos Paula Conill (1927-1983) was a Cuban outfielder whose place in history far outstrips his modest statistics: on September 6, 1954, at Griffith Stadium, he became the first Black player to appear for the Washington Senators, making them the 12th of the original 16 major-league franchises to integrate. Signed off the Havana sandlots by legendary Senators scout "Papa Joe" Cambria, the 6-foot-3 right-handed slugger had earned his shot with a .334 season at Decatur in 1952. He played three seasons in Washington (1954-1956), batting .271 with 124 hits, 9 home runs, and 60 RBI over 157 games. His finest year came in 1955, when he hit .299 (second on the club) and, on September 2, broke up Whitey Ford's seventh-inning no-hit bid with a single. A well-regarded bat undercut by a shaky glove — he posted the lowest fielding percentage among American League outfielders that season — Paula never became the everyday star some had predicted, finishing his pro career in the minors and Cuban Winter League. This is a first-series card that exists with both the common white and scarcer 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 | 684 | 0 | 10 | 138 | 187 | 182 | 93 | 72 | 2 |
| SGC | 52 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 223 · White Back 461
SGC by variation: Gray Back 25 · White Back 27
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 Carlos Paula card?
It is card #4 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 Washington Nationals player.
Does the 1956 Topps Carlos Paula 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 Carlos Paula 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.