Don Bessent - 1957 Topps #178
1957 Topps #178 Don Bessent
About Don Bessent
Fred Donald "Don" Bessent (1931-1990) was a right-handed pitcher from Jacksonville, Florida, who reached the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Signed by New York Yankees scout Leon Hamilton out of high school in 1950, he went 22-7 with a no-hitter in his first Class D season before a spinal injury required vertebrae-fusion surgery; the Dodgers later acquired him. Called up in July 1955, he was an immediate sensation, going 8-1 with a 2.70 ERA and finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting, then throwing 3-1/3 scoreless innings as Brooklyn won its first World Series. In 1956 he posted a 2.50 ERA with nine saves and won Game 2 of the World Series. Teammates, noting his sharp facial features, nicknamed him "The Weasel." Arm trouble ended his career in 1958. This is his 1957 Topps card, issued during his peak Dodgers years.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 447 | 1 | 7 | 109 | 159 | 91 | 45 | 35 | 0 |
| SGC | 37 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 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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- #130 Don Newcombe
- #147 Al Walker
- #170 Duke Snider
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- #190 Randy Jackson
- #201 Sandy Amoros
- #210 Roy Campanella
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Don Bessent card?
It is card #178 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 Don Bessent, Brooklyn Dodgers.
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.