1957 Topps #272 Bobby Shantz
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 Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz, born September 26, 1925, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, stood just 5-foot-6 — nearly every scout considered him too short before the Philadelphia Athletics' Harry O'Donnell signed him in November 1947. He debuted in 1949, announcing himself with nine hitless relief innings in a 13-inning win. In 1952 the diminutive left-hander went 24-7 with a 2.48 ERA and won the AL MVP with 83 percent of the vote, his season ending when a fastball broke his wrist. Arm trouble followed, but a 13-player trade sent him to the Yankees for 1957 — the year of this scarce Series Four card — and he responded with an AL-best 2.45 ERA, a third All-Star selection, and the first Gold Glove ever given a pitcher, launching a run of eight straight. He won a ring with the 1958 Yankees and pitched five relief innings in 1960's fateful Game 7. Over 16 seasons he went 119-99 with a 3.38 ERA.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 675 | 1 | 24 | 196 | 180 | 148 | 65 | 61 | 0 |
| SGC | 76 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 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 Bobby Shantz card?
It is card #272 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 Bobby Shantz, New York Yankees.
Is the 1957 Topps #272 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.