Billy O'Dell - 1957 Topps #316
1957 Topps #316 Billy O'Dell
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 O'Dell
Left-hander Billy O'Dell signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a "bonus baby" straight out of Clemson in 1954 and never spent a day in the minor leagues. After Army service cost him the 1955 season, he became a two-time All-Star for Baltimore (1958–59), earning MVP honors in the 1958 All-Star Game by retiring all nine National League hitters he faced. Traded to San Francisco, he won a career-high 19 games for the 1962 pennant-winning Giants, then took the loss in Game 1 of that fall's World Series against the Yankees while working 12⅓ innings over the seven games. Nicknamed "Digger" after a character on the radio-and-TV show The Life of Riley, he later saved 19 games with a 2.18 ERA for the 1965 Braves and finished his 13-season career 105–100 with a 3.29 ERA and 1,133 strikeouts. His card here comes from the scarce fourth series of the 1957 Topps set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 473 | 0 | 6 | 121 | 182 | 103 | 33 | 28 | 0 |
| SGC | 37 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 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 Billy O'Dell card?
It is card #316 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 O'Dell, Baltimore Orioles.
Is the 1957 Topps #316 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 2026-07-05.