1956 Topps #139 Tommy Carroll
1956 Topps #139 Tommy Carroll
About Tommy Carroll
Thomas Edward Carroll (born September 17, 1936, in Jamaica, New York; died September 22, 2021) was a shortstop and third baseman the Yankees signed as a "bonus baby" on January 26, 1955, out of Notre Dame, billing the touted infielder as the heir apparent to aging shortstop Phil Rizzuto. Under the era's bonus rule, he had to stay on the big-league roster, so he never developed as expected. On October 1, 1955, at just 19 years and 14 days old, Carroll pinch-ran in the World Series against the Dodgers, and he appeared in two games of that Series as a pinch-runner without batting, making him the youngest Yankee ever, and the second-youngest player ever, to appear in a World Series. He was on the roster of the 1956 champions but did not play in that Series. Across parts of three seasons with the Yankees (1955-56) and Kansas City Athletics (1959) he hit .300 with 1 RBI in 64 games. Carroll finished his Notre Dame degree in 1961, then spent 26 years as a CIA operations officer with postings in Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and London. This card exists in both scarcer white-back and common gray-back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
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 | 765 | 1 | 9 | 182 | 197 | 166 | 109 | 101 | 0 |
| SGC | 67 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 0 |
PSA by variation: Gray Back 687 · White Back 78
SGC by variation: Gray Back 55 · White Back 12
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 Tommy Carroll card?
It is card #139 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 New York Yankees player.
Does the 1956 Topps Tommy Carroll 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 Tommy Carroll 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.