1957 Topps #111 Hal R. Smith
About Hal R. Smith
Harold Raymond Smith signed with the Cardinals out of Barling, Arkansas, in September 1948 and spent seven minor-league seasons behind the plate before debuting in St. Louis on May 2, 1956, with a pinch-hit RBI double. The Cardinals' regular catcher from 1956 to 1961, he made two All-Star teams (1957 and 1959) on the strength of a throwing arm Gene Mauch called the finest of any catcher in the league, leading NL catchers in caught-stealing percentage in both 1959 and 1960. This card caught him entering his first All-Star summer, a season in which he batted .333 with runners in scoring position. Then, in June 1961, days after turning 30, chest pains revealed an angina condition and doctors ended his playing career at .258 with 23 home runs in 570 games. Smith stayed in baseball for decades — tutoring a young Tim McCarver, coaching, and scouting for the Cardinals, where his 1981 recommendation delivered Willie McGee to St. Louis.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 474 | 0 | 12 | 164 | 162 | 78 | 34 | 24 | 0 |
| SGC | 28 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 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 Hal R. Smith card?
It is card #111 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 Hal R. Smith, St. Louis Cardinals.
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.