Gail Harris - 1957 Topps #281
1957 Topps #281 Gail Harris
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 Gail Harris
Boyd Gail Harris Jr. (1931-2012), a left-handed-hitting first baseman from Abingdon, Virginia, signed with the New York Giants at 18 in 1950 and spent five and a half seasons in their farm system before debuting on June 3, 1955. He owns a quiet piece of history: on September 21, 1957, during a four-hit, seven-RBI game at Forbes Field, Harris hit the last home run ever struck by a New York Giants player, off Pittsburgh's Red Witt, before the franchise moved to San Francisco. Traded to Detroit with Ozzie Virgil for Jim Finigan and cash in January 1958, he promptly delivered his best season, batting .273 with 20 home runs and 83 RBI in 134 games. Harris finished his 1955-60 career with 51 homers and a .240 average across 437 games, then worked in insurance sales back in Virginia. His 1957 Topps card belongs to the scarce fourth series, adding to its appeal among set builders.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 446 | 1 | 2 | 127 | 163 | 83 | 51 | 19 | 0 |
| SGC | 30 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 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 Gail Harris card?
It is card #281 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 Gail Harris, New York Giants.
Is the 1957 Topps #281 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.