1957 Topps #311 Al Pilarcik
Scarce fourth series: #265-352 is the tough run of the 1957 set — roughly twice as hard to find as the other series ("tough, not rare"). No documented reason survives; the best-researched account is that Topps printed the hastily assembled final series in quantity and left Series 4 with the shortest run.
Double print (traditional designation): one of the 22 Series 4 cards Beckett lists as double prints. Press-sheet research (Net54 2025 / Topps Archives 2026) shows the 22 occupy exactly two full 11-card press rows and were NOT actually printed in greater quantity — the "DP" label is a catalog tradition kept because collectors expect it.
About Al Pilarcik
A left-handed-hitting right fielder from Whiting, Indiana, Al Pilarcik was signed into pro ball by Yankees scout Lou Maguolo and debuted with the Kansas City Athletics on July 13, 1956. He landed in Baltimore the following season and became a fixture in the Orioles outfield, topping 100 games three straight years from 1957 to 1959. That first Baltimore campaign — the year of this scarce Series Four card, his Topps rookie — was his finest, with career highs of 142 games, nine home runs, and 14 steals alongside a .278 average. Pilarcik owns a singular footnote in baseball history: stationed in right field at Fenway Park on September 28, 1960, for Ted Williams' final game, he caught Williams' long fifth-inning drive at the bullpen wall, then watched Williams' 521st and last home run sail over it. He wrapped up at .256 with 22 homers in 668 games (1956–61), then taught at Indiana's Lake Central High School for 33 years, retiring in 2001.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 527 | 2 | 21 | 168 | 175 | 90 | 45 | 26 | 0 |
| SGC | 29 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Al Pilarcik card?
It is card #311 of the 1957 Topps Baseball set - the 407-card, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inch set that was Topps' first at the modern standard card size, with full-color photography and complete career stats on the back. It pictures Al Pilarcik, Baltimore Orioles.
Is the 1957 Topps #311 hard to find?
It is part of the scarce fourth series (#265-352), the toughest run of the set - roughly twice as hard to find as the other series. It is tough, not rare; there is no documented distribution reason, only that Series 4 had the shortest print run.
Is the 1957 Topps #311 really a double print?
Beckett lists it among 22 Series 4 double prints, but press-sheet research shows those 22 form two full press rows and were not actually printed in greater quantity. The 'DP' tag is a catalog tradition; population and pricing show no real abundance.
Is the 1957 Topps Al Pilarcik #311 a rookie card?
Yes - it carries the rookie-card designation in the 1957 Topps set.
Sources: PSA CardFacts, Beckett, BaseballCardPedia, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research (Net54 / Topps Archives). Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-13.