Eddie O'Brien - 1957 Topps #259
1957 Topps #259 Eddie O'Brien
About Eddie O'Brien
A star at Seattle University, where he and identical twin Johnny led the basketball team to a 90-17 record over three seasons and a stunning 84-81 upset of the Harlem Globetrotters in January 1952, Eddie O'Brien signed with Pittsburgh as a $25,000 bonus baby in March 1953. The bonus rule kept him on the Pirates' roster, and he played shortstop and outfield in 1953 and 1955-58 around two years of Army service, hitting .236 without a home run; the O'Briens were the first twins to play for the same major-league team since the Shannons in 1915. His finest moment came on the mound during this card's season: on September 14, 1957, he beat the Cubs 3-1 at Wrigley Field with a complete-game six-hitter, fanning eight for his lone big-league win. Later Seattle University's longtime athletic director, he served as the Seattle Pilots' 1969 bullpen coach whom Jim Bouton's Ball Four dubbed "Mr. Small Stuff" for his fixation on minor details. He died in Seattle in 2014.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 561 | 2 | 29 | 230 | 154 | 88 | 38 | 19 | 1 |
| SGC | 36 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 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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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Eddie O'Brien card?
It is card #259 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 Eddie O'Brien, Pittsburgh Pirates.
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 2026-07-05.