1957 Topps #179 Ernie Oravetz
About Ernie Oravetz
Ernest Eugene Oravetz, born January 24, 1932, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a switch-hitting outfielder who threw left-handed. Listed at just 5-foot-4 and 145 pounds, he was the smallest player in the major leagues in 1955. He turned pro in 1951, and in his first season led the Class D Florida State League in batting (.362) and runs scored (122) while earning an All-Star selection; he also helped Chattanooga win a Southern Association pennant. Oravetz reached the majors with the Washington Senators, playing all 188 of his big-league games across 1955 and 1956, collecting 105 hits and batting .263 without a home run. He compiled a .311 career average in the minors before retiring around 1963, then worked for the U.S. Postal Service for three decades. He was inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame in 1975 and died December 3, 2006, in Tampa, Florida. His 1957 Topps card, issued after his final season, is his lone standard-issue Topps card.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 483 | 0 | 12 | 148 | 170 | 90 | 40 | 23 | 0 |
| SGC | 24 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
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 Ernie Oravetz card?
It is card #179 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 Ernie Oravetz, Washington Senators.
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.