1957 Topps #274 Don Hoak
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 Don Hoak
Don Hoak signed with Brooklyn's organization in 1947 after his Navy discharge and reached the majors with the Dodgers in 1954, starting Game 7 of the 1955 World Series at third base in place of Jackie Robinson as Brooklyn beat the Yankees 2-0. Traded through Chicago (1956) to Cincinnati, he broke out in 1957: a .293 average, career-high 19 homers and 89 RBIs, a league-leading 39 doubles, and his lone All-Star selection — and on April 21 he deliberately let a batted ball hit him to kill a double play, prompting a rule change within days. With Pittsburgh (1959-62), the fiery infielder — dubbed "Tiger" by broadcaster Bob Prince for his ferociousness — anchored the 1960 champions and finished second to teammate Dick Groat in MVP voting. He hit .265 with 89 home runs over 11 seasons, and died in 1969 at 41 of a heart attack while chasing his brother-in-law's stolen car, hours after being passed over as Pirates manager. This scarce Series Four card captures his breakout Redlegs season.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 494 | 0 | 11 | 137 | 177 | 98 | 46 | 25 | 0 |
| SGC | 33 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 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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Related cards
More Cincinnati Redlegs cards:
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- #32 Hershell Freeman
- #35 Frank Robinson
- #66 Brooks Lawrence
- #69 Roy McMillan
- #73 George Crowe
- #93 Hal Jeffcoat
- #103 Joe Nuxhall
- #128 Ed Bailey
- #157 Wally Post
- #165 Ted Kluszewski
- #180 Gus Bell
- #219 Tom Acker
- #222 Alex Grammas
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Don Hoak card?
It is card #274 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 Hoak, Cincinnati Redlegs.
Is the 1957 Topps #274 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 2026-07-10.