1957 Topps #304 Joe Cunningham
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 Joe Cunningham
Joe Cunningham signed with the Cardinals in 1949 for $150 a month, inked by a scout who had never personally seen him play, and after two years of Army service he announced himself spectacularly in June 1954, slugging a three-run homer with five RBIs in his debut, then homering twice off Warren Spahn the next day. A lefty first baseman and outfielder with a superb batting eye, he played for St. Louis (1954, 1956–61), the White Sox (1962–64, acquired for Minnie Miñoso), and the Senators (1964–66). Sportswriters dubbed him 'Smokey Joe' in 1958, and in 1959 he hit .345 — second only to Hank Aaron — led the NL with a .453 on-base percentage, and was picked for both All-Star Games. He retired at .291 with a .403 OBP, walking 599 times against 369 strikeouts, then spent decades in the Cardinals' front office, helping introduce the Fredbird mascot. This card, from 1957 Topps' scarce fourth series, catches him hitting .318 as the Cardinals' regular right fielder.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 547 | 1 | 16 | 162 | 183 | 104 | 46 | 35 | 0 |
| SGC | 32 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
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.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Live auctions Buy It Now Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
More St. Louis Cardinals cards:
- #47 Don Blasingame
- #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 Joe Cunningham card?
It is card #304 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 Joe Cunningham, St. Louis Cardinals.
Is the 1957 Topps #304 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.