1957 Topps #3 Dale Long
About Dale Long
Dale Long turned down pro football — his mother refused to sign Curly Lambeau's Green Bay Packers contract offer for the 18-year-old fullback — and instead ground through 13 minor-league teams in 11 seasons before sticking with Pittsburgh in 1955. In May 1956 the 6-foot-4 lefty first baseman became a national sensation, homering in eight straight games (May 19–28), a big-league record matched since only by Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr.; the frenzy brought an Ed Sullivan Show appearance and the National League's starting All-Star job at first base. This card rode that fame to the front of the 1957 set, picturing him as a Pirate just weeks before his May 1, 1957 trade to the Cubs — announced at a dinner honoring him as team MVP. In Chicago he became the majors' first left-handed catcher since 1902; with the 1960 Yankees his ninth-inning Game 7 pinch single set up the tying run before Mazeroski's shocker, and he won a ring in 1962, retiring with 132 homers and a .267 average.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 570 | 0 | 11 | 129 | 210 | 131 | 49 | 40 | 0 |
| SGC | 38 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 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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- #24 Bill Mazeroski
- #52 Lee Walls
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- #110 Bill Virdon
- #140 Frank Thomas
- #150 Bob Friend
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Dale Long card?
It is card #3 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 Dale Long, Pittsburgh Pirates.
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.