1956 Topps #292 Luis Aparicio
1956 Topps #292 Luis Aparicio
Luis Aparicio's rookie card - the only Hall-of-Fame rookie in the set.
About Luis Aparicio
This is the rookie card of Luis Aparicio, the graceful shortstop from Maracaibo, Venezuela, who followed his father, the legendary Luis Aparicio Sr. ("El Grande de Maracaibo"), into the pro game. On the recommendation of countryman Chico Carrasquel, the Chicago White Sox signed him for about $10,000 after the Indians dismissed him as too small. Aparicio debuted on April 17, 1956, led the American League with 21 stolen bases, and was named AL Rookie of the Year — the first Latin American player so honored. Over 18 seasons (1956-1973) with the White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox, "Little Louie" won a record nine consecutive AL stolen-base titles (1956-1964), earned nine Gold Gloves, and made 13 All-Star teams. His signature year was 1959, when he and double-play partner Nellie Fox drove the "Go-Go" White Sox to the pennant; he swiped a career-high 56 bases and finished second to Fox in MVP voting before Chicago fell to the Dodgers in the World Series. He retired with 2,677 hits, 83 home runs, 791 RBI, 506 stolen bases, and a .262 average, and in 1984 became the first Venezuelan-born player elected to the Hall of Fame. Fittingly for the era's premier shortstop, this high-number card (#292, Series 4) is the only Hall-of-Fame rookie card in the 1956 Topps set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number (Series 4)
Cards 261-340. Unlike most vintage sets, the 1956 high numbers carry NO series premium - they were distributed in similar quantities to the rest of the set.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 3,880 | 3 | 31 | 353 | 535 | 810 | 740 | 1,399 | 9 |
| SGC | 1,347 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 92 | 113 | 318 | 764 | 31 |
SGC by variation: Standard 1,345 · Gray Back 2
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 Chicago White Sox cards
- Dick Donovan
- Jack Harshman
- Bob Kennedy
- Bob Keegan
- Jim Rivera
- Nellie Fox
- Minnie Minoso
- Leroy Powell
- Dixie Howell
- Billy Pierce
- Ron Jackson
- Chicago White Sox Team
- George Kell
- Walt Dropo
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1956 Topps Luis Aparicio card?
It is card #292 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 Chicago White Sox player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Is the 1956 Topps Luis Aparicio 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.