1957 Topps #79 Lindy McDaniel
About Lindy McDaniel
Nicknamed "Lindy" at age four after aviator Charles Lindbergh, Lyndall Dale McDaniel signed with St. Louis in August 1955 as a $50,000 bonus baby and jumped straight to the majors at 19. This 1957 Topps issue is his rookie card, and it caught him at the perfect moment: he led the Cardinals with 15 wins (15-9, 3.49 ERA) and ten complete games that season while his younger brother Von joined the staff, drawing comparisons to the Dean brothers. Lindy soon moved to the bullpen and became one of the era's premier firemen, leading the NL in saves in 1959 and 1960, making the 1960 All-Star team, and earning The Sporting News Fireman of the Year honors in 1960 and 1963. Over 21 seasons with the Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Yankees, and Royals he went 141-119 with 174 saves, and his 987 games are the most ever without a postseason appearance. An ordained Church of Christ minister, he published the "Pitching for the Master" newsletter for decades before his death in 2020.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 535 | 0 | 19 | 171 | 179 | 99 | 40 | 27 | 0 |
| SGC | 49 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 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 Lindy McDaniel card?
It is card #79 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 Lindy McDaniel, St. Louis Cardinals.
Is the 1957 Topps Lindy McDaniel #79 a rookie card?
Yes - it carries the rookie-card designation in the 1957 Topps set.
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.