1957 Topps #273 Jim Davis
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 Jim Davis
A left-hander armed with a screwball and knuckleball, Jim Davis signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1946 after serving in the Marine Corps during World War II, then pitched four seasons for the Pacific Coast League's Seattle Rainiers before reaching the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1954. His rookie year was his best: 11 wins, four saves, and a 3.52 ERA in 46 games. On May 27, 1956, he became the first major-league pitcher in forty years to strike out four batters in one inning — against these same Cardinals, who acquired him that offseason along with Hobie Landrith, the Cubs catcher whose error had prolonged the record frame. Davis made just ten relief appearances for St. Louis before being waived to the Giants in June 1957, his final season; he finished 24-26 with a 4.01 ERA. This scarce Series Four card captures his brief Cardinals stopover.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 429 | 0 | 12 | 129 | 161 | 74 | 35 | 18 | 0 |
| SGC | 22 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Related cards
More St. Louis Cardinals cards:
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- #65 Wally Moon
- #71 Murry Dickson
- #79 Lindy McDaniel
- #81 Herman Wehmeier
- #94 Bobby Del Greco
- #98 Alvin Dark
- #111 Hal R. Smith
- #113 Wilmer Mizell
- #122 Ken Boyer
- #182 Hobie Landrith
- #196 Larry Jackson
- #203 Hoyt Wilhelm
- #206 Willard Schmidt
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Jim Davis card?
It is card #273 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 Davis, St. Louis Cardinals.
Is the 1957 Topps #273 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 2026-10-13.