Gene Mauch - 1957 Topps #342
1957 Topps #342 Gene Mauch
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 Gene Mauch
Gene William Mauch (1925-2005) signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1943, inked personally by Branch Rickey at age 17, and reached the majors on April 18, 1944 amid the wartime manpower shortage. A light-hitting utility infielder, he bounced through the Dodgers, Pirates, Cubs, Boston Braves, and Cardinals before landing with the Boston Red Sox in 1956-1957, where this Series Four card catches him at second base. His 1957 finale was his most productive big-league year; he retired a career .239 hitter who never played more than 72 games in a season. Mauch's real fame came in the dugout: nicknamed "Skip" since his high-school playing days, he managed 26 seasons for the Phillies, the expansion Expos (their first skipper), Twins, and Angels, winning 1,902 games. He remains the winningest manager never to reach a World Series, undone by the Phillies' 1964 September collapse and the Angels' 1986 near-miss. This scarce high-number card is prized by set builders.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 501 | 0 | 5 | 100 | 161 | 132 | 60 | 43 | 0 |
| SGC | 46 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 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 Gene Mauch card?
It is card #342 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 Gene Mauch, Boston Red Sox.
Is the 1957 Topps #342 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.