1957 Topps #292 Billy Klaus
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.
About Billy Klaus
Billy Klaus turned pro in 1946 at 17 and ground through nine minor-league seasons before a two-month tear in 1955 made him a Boston hero. Installed at shortstop on June 5, the 5-foot-9 "Sparkplug" — a label coined that June by Boston American writer Mike Gillooly — hit safely in 51 of 61 games as the Red Sox surged into the pennant race, finishing at .283, second to Herb Score in Rookie of the Year voting and winning the first Harry Agganis Memorial Award. Ted Williams called him "one of the greatest little competitors I ever played with." In 1957 Klaus reclaimed shortstop with Don Buddin in military service, batting .252 despite a July back injury. Over 11 seasons with the Braves, Red Sox, Orioles, Senators, and Phillies he hit .249 with 626 hits; at Yankee Stadium on April 24, 1960, he and Albie Pearson hit grand slams in the same game, tying the then-record. His card here sits in the scarce fourth series of the 1957 set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 446 | 0 | 3 | 86 | 176 | 103 | 47 | 31 | 0 |
| SGC | 22 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 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 Billy Klaus card?
It is card #292 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 Billy Klaus, Boston Red Sox.
Is the 1957 Topps #292 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.
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 2026-10-13.