1957 Topps #339 Bob Speake
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 Bob Speake
Robert Charles "Spook" Speake (August 22, 1930 - October 3, 2024) was a left-handed outfielder and first baseman who signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1949 out of Springfield High School in Missouri for a $400 bonus. He debuted with the Cubs in 1955 and immediately created a sensation, batting .282 in May with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs, capped by homers in both ends of a Memorial Day doubleheader in St. Louis. He returned to the Cubs in 1957, then was traded in April 1958 to the newly relocated San Francisco Giants in exchange for veteran Bobby Thomson, playing there through 1959. In the minors he starred for the 1956 Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, hitting .300 with 25 home runs and 111 RBIs. Over parts of four big-league seasons he appeared in 305 games with 170 hits, 31 home runs, 104 RBIs and a .223 average. His 1957 Topps card (#339) belongs to the scarce high-numbered Series Four.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 525 | 0 | 16 | 163 | 182 | 92 | 54 | 18 | 0 |
| SGC | 32 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 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).
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Find on eBay
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More Chicago Cubs cards:
- #16 Walt Moryn
- #42 Dee Fondy
- #55 Ernie Banks
- #74 Vito Valentinetti
- #84 Moe Drabowsky
- #134 Don Kaiser
- #137 Bob Rush
- #155 Jim Brosnan
- #159 Solly Drake
- #176A Gene Baker
- #176B Gene Baker
- #183 Chicago Cubs
- #186 Jim King
- #218 Ray Jablonski
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Bob Speake card?
It is card #339 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 Speake, Chicago Cubs.
Is the 1957 Topps #339 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 2026-07-10.