1957 Topps #203 Hoyt Wilhelm
Uncorrected error: Born in '22, not '23. It was never corrected, so there is only one version of the card.
The #176 "Bakep" error: the back header reads "EUGENF W. BAKEP," the whole name garbled on the printing plate. It is the ONLY error Topps corrected in 1957, which is why the error back carries the premium — a PSA population near 215, topping out at PSA 8.
About Hoyt Wilhelm
James Hoyt Wilhelm (born July 26, 1922, in Huntersville, North Carolina) was a right-handed pitcher who mastered the knuckleball better than perhaps anyone in history. He began pro ball with Mooresville of the Class-D North Carolina State League in 1942, then served three years in the Army, earning a Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. Reaching the majors with the New York Giants in 1952, the 29-year-old rookie homered in his first at-bat and won the ERA title (2.43) from the bullpen. He helped the Giants sweep the 1954 World Series and, on September 20, 1958, threw a 1-0 no-hitter against the Yankees. Traded to the Cardinals in February 1957, he made only a brief stop in St. Louis. An eight-time All-Star nicknamed "Old Folks" for his seemingly ageless career, he retired 143-122 with 227 saves and in 1985 became the first relief pitcher inducted into the Hall of Fame. Fittingly for this card's UER, his true birth year (1922, not 1923) stayed unknown until his death.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1,165 | 0 | 19 | 240 | 318 | 275 | 162 | 150 | 1 |
| SGC | 224 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 36 | 55 | 52 | 61 | 4 |
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 Hoyt Wilhelm card?
It is card #203 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 Hoyt Wilhelm, 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.