1957 Topps #48 Bill Bruton
About Bill Bruton
William Havon Bruton was arguably the fastest man in 1950s baseball. Released by the Negro leagues' Philadelphia Stars but tutored by his father-in-law, Hall of Famer Judy Johnson, he signed with the Braves' organization in 1950 — at 23, his age quietly shaved to 19 — and debuted as Milwaukee's leadoff man and center fielder in 1953. His tenth-inning walk-off homer on April 14, 1953 won the Braves' first game in Milwaukee, and he led the NL in steals three straight years (1953–55) and in triples twice. This card catches a bittersweet peak: on July 11, 1957, a collision with shortstop Felix Mantilla tore a ligament in his right knee, and Bruton underwent surgery the day the Braves opened the World Series they went on to win. He answered in the 1958 Series, batting .412 with a tenth-inning walk-off single in Game 1. Traded to Detroit after 1960, he retired in 1964 with a .273 career average, then spent 23 years at Chrysler, finishing as special assistant to president Lee Iacocca.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 551 | 2 | 23 | 159 | 188 | 108 | 44 | 27 | 0 |
| SGC | 48 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 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 Bill Bruton card?
It is card #48 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 Bill Bruton, 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 2026-07-10.