1957 Topps #406 Bob Hale
Series 5 short print: one of 11 sheet-verified short prints. Series 5's 55 cards fill five press rows, and this card's row C ran four times per full sheet versus five for the rest (about 20% short). Source: the Topps Archives / Mark Pekrul uncut-sheet study (2026).
About Bob Hale
Robert Houston Hale (November 7, 1933 - September 8, 2012) was a left-handed first baseman signed by the St. Louis Browns before the 1952 season. He tore up the minors - .332 at Aberdeen in 1953, a Piedmont League-leading 35 doubles at York in 1954, then .355 with York in 1955 - earning a July 4, 1955 debut with the Baltimore Orioles. Hale played for the Orioles (1955-1959), Cleveland Indians (1960-1961), and New York Yankees (1961), settling in as one of the game's most effective pinch hitters; he batted .300 for Cleveland in 1960 working almost exclusively off the bench. Over seven seasons he hit .273 with 171 hits, 89 RBI, and 2 home runs in 376 games. On October 1, 1961, he singled off Tracy Stallard in the same game Roger Maris hit his record 61st home run. After baseball he earned advanced degrees and worked as a college coach, athletics administrator, and scout, and was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. His card is a sheet-verified Series 5 short print.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 432 | 0 | 5 | 102 | 149 | 88 | 50 | 38 | 0 |
| SGC | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 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 Bob Hale card?
It is card #406 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 Bob Hale, Baltimore Orioles.
Is the 1957 Topps #406 a short print?
Yes - it is one of 11 sheet-verified Series 5 short prints. Its press-sheet row ran about 20% fewer times than the other rows, per the Topps Archives uncut-sheet study. It is single-sourced research, so the label is attributed rather than a catalog standard.
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.