Jim Busby - 1957 Topps #309
1957 Topps #309 Jim Busby
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.
Double print (traditional designation): one of the 22 Series 4 cards Beckett lists as double prints. Press-sheet research (Net54 2025 / Topps Archives 2026) shows the 22 occupy exactly two full 11-card press rows and were NOT actually printed in greater quantity — the "DP" label is a catalog tradition kept because collectors expect it.
About Jim Busby
A blazing sprinter who ran 100 yards in 9.8 seconds at Texas Christian University, James Franklin Busby signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1948 after batting .509 for TCU. The center fielder debuted in 1950 and broke out in 1951, making the AL All-Star team, hitting .283 with 26 steals, and joining Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle on The Sporting News rookie all-star outfield. Traded to Washington in 1952, he peaked in 1953-54 (.312 and .298), leading AL outfielders in putouts both years. Dealt to Cleveland with Chico Carrasquel for Larry Doby after 1955, he hit grand slams in consecutive games on July 5-6, 1956 — a feat previously achieved only by Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, and Bill Dickey. This scarce Series Four card captures his final Indians days; he split 1957 between Cleveland and Baltimore. Casey Stengel said Busby "catches singles off his shoetops and steals second base on pitchouts." He retired in 1962 with a .262 average, coached through 1978, and died in 1996.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 458 | 0 | 7 | 127 | 156 | 108 | 41 | 19 | 0 |
| SGC | 29 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 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 Jim Busby card?
It is card #309 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 Jim Busby, Cleveland Indians.
Is the 1957 Topps #309 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.
Is the 1957 Topps #309 really a double print?
Beckett lists it among 22 Series 4 double prints, but press-sheet research shows those 22 form two full press rows and were not actually printed in greater quantity. The 'DP' tag is a catalog tradition; population and pricing show no real abundance.
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.