1956 Topps #63 Roger Craig
1956 Topps #63 Roger Craig
About Roger Craig
Signed off the sandlots by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950, right-handed pitcher Roger Craig reached the majors in July 1955 and threw a complete-game victory in his debut, then won Game 5 of the 1955 World Series to help Brooklyn capture the only championship in the franchise's Ebbets Field history. He pitched 12 big-league seasons (1955-1966) for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Phillies, going 74-98 with a 3.83 ERA and 803 strikeouts, and earned a second title with the 1959 Dodgers. Chosen by the expansion Mets in 1962, Craig became a symbol of that famously terrible club, losing an NL-high 24 games in 1962 and dropping 18 straight in 1963 - prompting Casey Stengel's line, "You've gotta be good to lose that many." He later gained greater fame as a coach and manager: he tutored the Detroit Tigers' 1984 champions, popularized the split-finger fastball as its foremost teacher, and managed the San Francisco Giants to the 1987 NL West title and the 1989 pennant, spreading his signature rallying cry "Humm Baby." This is Craig's Topps rookie card; as an early-series number (1-180), it exists with both the common white and scarcer gray card-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 | 1,302 | 1 | 28 | 249 | 346 | 335 | 171 | 172 | 0 |
| SGC | 173 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 32 | 35 | 27 | 58 | 2 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 367 · White Back 935
SGC by variation: Gray Back 93 · White Back 80
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 Roger Craig card?
It is card #63 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 Brooklyn Dodgers player, and is his first Topps card (rookie).
Does the 1956 Topps Roger Craig 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 Roger Craig 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.