1957 Topps #401 Earl Battey
About Earl Battey
Earl Jesse Battey (1935-2003) was a defensively dominant catcher who signed with the Chicago White Sox for a $3,999 bonus after being spotted at a Los Angeles high school game. He debuted in September 1955 but was blocked by veteran Sherman Lollar, appearing sparingly through 1959 and hitting just .174 in 1957. Traded to the Washington Senators in April 1960, he blossomed once given the job, leading the American League in games caught, putouts, and assists that year and winning the first of three straight Gold Gloves (1960-1962). A five-time All-Star, Battey hit .302 in 1961 and 26 home runs in 1963. With the Minnesota Twins he anchored the 1965 pennant winners, batting .297; in the World Series he started every game despite gashing his throat on a dugout railing chasing a foul pop, as the Twins fell to the Dodgers in seven. He threw out 43.44% of would-be base stealers and retired in 1967 with 104 homers over 1,141 games. This 1957 Topps issue is his rookie card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 635 | 0 | 23 | 244 | 181 | 97 | 61 | 29 | 0 |
| SGC | 52 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
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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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Earl Battey card?
It is card #401 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 Earl Battey, Chicago White Sox.
Is the 1957 Topps Earl Battey #401 a rookie card?
Yes - it carries the rookie-card designation in the 1957 Topps 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 2026-10-13.