Andy Pafko - 1957 Topps #143
1957 Topps #143 Andy Pafko
Uncorrected error: Debuted in '43, not '44. It was never corrected, so there is only one version of the card.
The #176 "Bakep" error: the back header reads "EUGENF W. BAKEP," the whole name garbled on the printing plate. It is the ONLY error Topps corrected in 1957, which is why the error back carries the premium — a PSA population near 215, topping out at PSA 8.
About Andy Pafko
Andy Pafko, born February 25, 1921, in Boyceville, Wisconsin, to Czech immigrant parents, worked his way up through the minors, earning Pacific Coast League MVP honors with the Los Angeles Angels in 1943. He debuted for the Chicago Cubs on September 24, 1943 (confirming the card's error correction that he arrived in '43, not '44), going 3-for-4 with three RBI. A five-time All-Star and versatile outfielder, he picked up the nickname "Handy Andy" from a minor league manager for his ability to play multiple positions. Pafko starred for the Cubs (1943-1951), reaching the 1945 World Series, then the Brooklyn Dodgers (1951-1952), where he was the left fielder who watched Bobby Thomson's 1951 pennant-clinching "Shot Heard 'Round the World" sail overhead. Traded to his home-state Milwaukee Braves (1953-1959), he helped them win the 1957 World Series over the Yankees. Over 17 seasons he hit .285 with 213 home runs and 976 RBI. His 1952 Topps card #1 remains one of the hobby's most coveted issues.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 640 | 1 | 23 | 214 | 219 | 104 | 42 | 37 | 0 |
| SGC | 60 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded (the +/Q qualifier rows are excluded).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Andy Pafko card?
It is card #143 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 Andy Pafko, Milwaukee Braves.
How many cards are in the 1957 Topps set?
407 numbered cards. Collectors usually count 408 because #176 Gene Baker exists in an error ('Bakep') and a corrected back. The PSA master set adds the 8 checklists, 4 contest cards and the Lucky Penny for 421 items.
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 2026-07-05.