Don Zimmer - 1957 Topps #284
1957 Topps #284 Don Zimmer
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 Zimmer
A Cincinnati kid signed by Branch Rickey's Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949, Don Zimmer survived a horrific 1953 beaning at Triple-A St. Paul — unconscious for nearly two weeks, with holes drilled into his skull — then debuted in Brooklyn in 1954. The scrappy utility infielder backed up second, short, and third for the 1955 World Series champions, appearing in four games including Game 7, and won a second ring with Los Angeles in 1959. Nicknamed "Popeye" because his thick arms recalled the comic-strip sailor, Zimmer hit .235 with 91 homers across 12 seasons for the Dodgers, Cubs, original 1962 Mets, Reds, and Senators, making the 1961 All-Star team. He never left the game: 885 managerial wins with the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs (1989 NL Manager of the Year), then four more titles as Joe Torre's Yankees bench coach. He died in 2014 in his 66th year in pro ball. This card comes from 1957's scarce fourth series, issued during Brooklyn's final season.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 859 | 0 | 18 | 186 | 240 | 210 | 105 | 100 | 0 |
| SGC | 117 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 19 | 27 | 1 |
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 Don Zimmer card?
It is card #284 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 Zimmer, Brooklyn Dodgers.
Is the 1957 Topps #284 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.