Clint Courtney - 1957 Topps #51
1957 Topps #51 Clint Courtney
About Clint Courtney
Clint 'Scrap Iron' Courtney signed with the Yankees in 1947 after scout Atley Donald visited his Louisiana family farm, debuting in September 1951 as likely the first big-league catcher to wear glasses behind the plate. Traded to the St. Louis Browns, he hit .286 in 1952 and was named The Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year. The nickname came that spring, when he sliced himself up on glass and rocks in a railway-yard footrace and suited up the next day in bandages. Famously combative, he tangled with Billy Martin in 1952 — drawing a three-game suspension — and again in 1953. Dealt to Washington in June 1955, he hit .309 that season and .300 in 1956, and was the Senators' semi-regular catcher when this card appeared in 1957 Topps, the first set at today's standard card size. With Baltimore in 1960 he debuted Paul Richards's oversized 'Big Bertha' mitt to corral Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball. A .268 hitter in 946 big-league games, Courtney died in 1975 at 48 while managing Triple-A Richmond.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 500 | 2 | 16 | 153 | 177 | 79 | 41 | 32 | 0 |
| SGC | 34 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 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 Clint Courtney card?
It is card #51 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 Clint Courtney, Washington Senators.
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.