1957 Topps #153 Karl Olson
About Karl Olson
Karl Arthur Olson (1930-2010) was a right-handed outfielder signed out of Tamalpais High School in California by Red Sox scout Charlie Wallgren in 1948, at age 17. He tore up the minors, hitting .321 with 23 home runs and 100 RBIs for Birmingham in 1950 and earning a call to Boston, where he debuted June 30, 1951. Military service in 1951-1953 (he was stationed stateside at Fort Ord and later Japan, never seeing combat) interrupted his rise. Olson played parts of six big-league seasons for the Red Sox (1951, 1953-1955), Washington Senators (1956-1957), and Detroit Tigers (1957), batting .235 with 6 home runs and 50 RBIs in 279 games. His signature day came on Opening Day 1956 with Washington: before President Eisenhower, he went 3-for-4 with two home runs off Don Larsen, matching his entire home-run output for Boston in a single afternoon. This 1957 Topps card captures him in his brief Senators tenure.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 536 | 2 | 18 | 219 | 158 | 84 | 30 | 25 | 0 |
| SGC | 33 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Karl Olson card?
It is card #153 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 Karl Olson, Washington Senators.
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.