Don Drysdale - 1957 Topps #18
1957 Topps #18 Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale's rookie card — the Dodgers' 20-year-old sidearmer, a future Hall of Famer and one of the set's premier rookies.
About Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale signed with the Dodgers out of Van Nuys High School for a $4,000 bonus and debuted in Brooklyn in April 1956, going 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA at 19 — making this card #18 his rookie card, one of the 1957 set's premier rookies. Nicknamed “Big D” for his imposing 6-foot-5 frame, the sidearming right-hander owned the inside corner, hitting 154 batters, a modern NL record. In 14 seasons (1956-69), all with the Dodgers, he made nine All-Star teams, won the 1962 Cy Young Award at 25-9 with a league-leading 232 strikeouts, and helped win three World Series (1959, 1963, 1965), throwing a three-hit shutout in Game 3 of the 1963 sweep. In 1968 he fired a record 58⅔ consecutive scoreless innings, including six straight shutouts. He finished 209-166 with 2,486 strikeouts, became a longtime broadcaster, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1984.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 4,925 | 0 | 20 | 201 | 586 | 1,034 | 1,026 | 2,045 | 13 |
| SGC | 2,045 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 85 | 211 | 474 | 1,192 | 63 |
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 Brooklyn Dodgers cards:
- #5 Sal Maglie
- #30 Pee Wee Reese
- #45 Carl Furillo
- #53 Clem Labine
- #80 Gil Hodges
- #115 Jim Gilliam
- #130 Don Newcombe
- #147 Al Walker
- #170 Duke Snider
- #173 Roger Craig
- #178 Don Bessent
- #190 Randy Jackson
- #201 Sandy Amoros
- #210 Roy Campanella
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Don Drysdale card?
It is card #18 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 Drysdale, Brooklyn Dodgers.
Is the 1957 Topps Don Drysdale #18 a rookie card?
Yes - it is his Topps rookie card and one of the nine key rookies in the 1957 set.
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.